Psychological Problems of Children With Chronic Juvenile Arthritis

Abstract
Adjustment of 42 children with chronic arthritis and an equal number of healthy children selected as matched controls were studied by three methods—parental, school, and individual psychological ratings. Children with arthritis were identified as having more psychological problems than the control group. It is suggested from this study that children with arthritis, but with no disability, may have more emotional problems than the disabled child with arthritis and more than a control group. Psychosocial evaluation and support are suggested as a routine part of outpatient services for arthritic children and their families, and some methods from this study may be applicable for this purpose.