Abstract

This study is aimed at investigating the development in pediatric leukaemic patients during the phases of treatment belonging the specific therapeutic protocol. Cancer in pediatric age causes a lot of difficulties in both psychosocial and physical domains. Longitudinal evaluation of adaptive behavior, namely Socialization, Communication, Daily living skills and Motor skills, during the critical phases of treatment, can give important information about children's psychosocial development. Vineland scales were administered to parents of 50 leukaemic children at one year from diagnosis (T1) and at the stop therapy, 2 years later from diagnosis (T2). Concurrent results at T1 and T2 show major limitations in the social area and in the physical skills. Longitudinal analysis show a significant improvement in all skills after two years. Difficulties are persistent even if reduced, especially for the specific areas of Receptive Communication and Coping skills.