Evaluation of the Effect of Cognitive Behavioral Interventions on the Emotional Reactions of Parents of Children with Retinoblastoma

Leila Boujabadi; Farhad Adhami Moghadam; Fariba Ghassemi; Mohammad Sahebalzamani

doi:10.18502/aacc.v7i3.6902

Leila Boujabadi Eye Research Center, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Farhad Adhami Moghadam Department of Ophthalmology, Tehran Medical Sciences Branch Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Fariba Ghassemi Infectious Diseases Research Center, Arak University of Medical Science, Arak, Iran.
Mohammad Sahebalzamani Department of Management ,Faculty Of Health, Tehran Medical Sciences Branch Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/aacc.v7i3.6902

Keywords: Retinoblastoma; Cognitive behavioral therapy; Anxiety; Stress; Depression

Abstract

Background: Retinoblastoma is the most common primary intraocular malignancy in childhood. Diagnosis of the disease and treatment decisions put a lot of stress on the family. Excessive anxiety and stress can lead to serious psychological problems. The cognitive behavioral approach focuses on the individuals’ thoughts, behaviors, and emotions and their interaction. This study aimed to investigate the effect of cognitive behavioral interactions on the emotional reactions of parents of children with retinoblastoma.

Methods: This study was carried out using a quasi-experimental design on 106 parents of children with retinoblastoma referred to the Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran, Iran, between 2017 and 2018. Cognitive behavioral therapy was performed through eight sessions of 90-minute training for parents. The data collection method was self-responding using the depression, anxiety, and stress scale-21 Items (DASS-21) questionnaire. Pre-and post-intervention test scores were collected for statistical analysis.

Results: The mean anxiety score decreased from 13.65 (moderate anxiety) before the cognitive-behavioral intervention to 10.13 (mild anxiety) after the intervention (p<0.05). The mean depression score decreased from 11.26 (mild depression) before the intervention to 8.32 (no depression) after the intervention (p<0.05). The mean stress score decreased from 10.79 (normal) before the intervention to8.25 (normal) after the intervention (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Our study showed that the occurrence of retinoblastoma in children poses a significant risk to the mental health of their parents. Cognitive-behavioral interventions can be effective in improving the level of parent's anxiety, depression, and stress.