Alteration of memory in the reduction of children's distress during repeated aversive medical procedures

J Consult Clin Psychol. 1999 Aug;67(4):481-90. doi: 10.1037//0022-006x.67.4.481.

Abstract

The present study sought to reduce children's distress during aversive medical procedures using a brief, cost-effective intervention aimed at reframing memory. Fifty children diagnosed with leukemia (25 treatment, 25 attention control, aged 3-18) were observed as they underwent 3 consecutive lumbar punctures (LPs; baseline, postintervention, and follow-up). Self-report, physiological, and observable distress measures were collected before and after each LP. At posttreatment, children in the intervention group showed reductions in anticipatory physiological and self-report ratings relative to the control group. At follow-up, these effects generalized to reductions in procedural distress. These results suggest that (a) a simple memory-based intervention is efficacious at reducing children's distress and (b) benefits from this intervention are maintained over 1 week even without continued intervention.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy* / economics
  • Conditioning, Classical
  • Defense Mechanisms
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Recall*
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / psychology*
  • Retention, Psychology
  • Sick Role*
  • Spinal Puncture / psychology*
  • Suggestion*