PIGO

PIGO: Psychologisches Interventionsprogramm für Geschwister von Onkologiepatienten.

Psychological interventions in siblings of pediatric cancer patients

Summary

Diagnosis and medical treatment of pediatric cancer is a stressful life experience for all family members and can have a substantial emotional impact on healthy siblings. There is growing evidence indicating that siblings of children with cancer suffer significant psychological distress. However, sibling’s wellbeing is often overlooked and psychological interventions are rare. The aim of this project is to design and evaluate a standardized psychological intervention within the first two months after the cancer diagnosis to prevent behavioral problems in school age siblings of pediatric cancer patients. Further the study aims at assessing the psychological adjustment of the siblings during the first six months after diagnosis and examines the impact of course of disease and family variables on siblings’ adjustment.

Project Leadership and Contacts

Prof. Dr. Markus A. Landolt
markus.landoltkispi.uzh.ch

Prof. Dr. Felix Niggli
felix.nigglikispi.uzh.ch

Dr. phil. Alice Prchal
alice.prchalkispi.uzh.ch

Funding Sources

UBS Donation Ref. 14102004

Duration of Project

Dec 2005 to Dec 2010

Publications

Articles

• Prchal, A. & Landolt, M.A. (2009). Psychological interventions with siblings of pediatric cancer patients: A systematic review. Psycho-Oncology, 18, 1241-1251.

  http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pon.1565/abstract

• Prchal, A. & Landolt, M. A. (2012). How siblings of pediatric cancer patients experience the first time after diagnosis: a qualitative study. Cancer Nursing, 35(2), 133-140.

  http://journals.lww.com/cancernursingonline/
  Abstract/2012/0300/How_Siblings_of_Pediatric_
  Cancer_Patients.7.aspx

• Prchal, A., Graf, A., Bergstraesser, E. & Landolt, M. A. (2012). A two session psychological intervention for siblings of pediatric cancer patients: a randomized coltrolled pilot trial. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 6(3).

  http://www.capmh.com/content/6/1/3

Abstracts

• Prchal, A. (2008). Psychological interventions in siblings of pediatric cancer patients: A systematic review. 40th congress of the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP).

Master thesis

• Prchal, A. (2012). Siblings of pediatric cancer patients: psychological adjustment and interventions. Dissertation, Universität Zürich.