RESUMO
Background: Chronic illness [CI] presents considerable burden at dtferent life stages especially childhood, so its concern is raised and need greater attention. The psychological influences of C1 are currently less well understood and consequently the elements of its care may be overlooked if its importance is not stressed by appropriate definition and classification
Objective: To assess psychological profile [PP] and psychological impacts [PI] of CI among adolescents, and to demonstrate the determinants of the psychological reactions [PR]
Methods: A case control design was adopted in this study. The index cases [n = 150] were those attending the clinics at Alexandria Students' School Hospital and suffering from CI namely; Diabetes Mellitus [DM], Rheumatic heart [RH], and Bronchial asthma [BA]. A similar number of controls who attended for minor conditions, matched by age and sex, were chosen from the same hospital. Data about adolescents' characters [age, sex, birth order, level of education, family size and the crowding index] and PI [Adolescents' perception of their illness, Family response and School support to the chronically ill adolescents] were obtained by an interviewing questionnaire. Additionally, psychological assessment was done by using Middle Sex Test [MST]
Results: Hysteria, obsession, depression and psychosomatic constituted the highly prevalent neurotic traits in the Present study. Asthmatic adolescents stated that their illness is incurable and restrict their activity. Mothers [initially] and siblings [late] of rheumatics are more likely to have negative attitudes. Teachers' care of absence is More mentioned by the diabetics. The significant factors contributing to the psychological disturbance are the birth Order, family responses, school support and the effect of CI on activity and attendance
Conclusion: It could be concluded that Cl affects the adolescents' psychological status and exerts impacts on the Idolescent himself, his family and school members. CI of adolescents expose them to peer rejection through their Isolation and avoidance of activity, prolonged absence from school besides the decrease of self confidence due to independency that results from overprotective and sympathetic parents. Lack of social support and communication islike a sixth sense without which you cannot make a complete use of the other five. The chronically ill adolescents and their families are in need for team providing comprehensive care [medical and psychosocial], support and education