Psychological complications of chronic illness

How does Children’s Hospital Boston diagnose psychological complications related to a chronic illness?
If you think your child is having difficulty coping with a chronic illness, a trained mental health professional at Children’s can evaluate his adjustment to his medical symptoms and treatment, as well as his overall self-esteem, self-image and psychological functioning.

Evaluations involve both you and your child, and are normally conducted as a series of interviews or questionnaires about:

• your child’s illness and medical history
• his emotional and behavioral symptoms
• his school and social life
• his family life and family medical and mental health history 

Based on the exam, your Children’s clinician will provide detailed feedback and recommendations for a treatment plan that meets the specific needs of your child and family.