The Role of Pediatric Psychologists in Critical Care: Lessons Learned and Future Directions in Integrating Mental Health Care Into PICUs

Pediatric psychologists are essential staff in the PICU. Their role in caring for critically ill children aligns with clinical practice guidelines for the mental health care needs of this population of patients. This article highlights the role of pediatric psychology in the PICU through illustrative case examples. We discuss lessons learned and future directions for the development and provision of mental health services in PICUs. We address relevant ways for critical care providers to understand the importance of evidence-based psychological care and advocate for the inclusion of psychologists on multidisciplinary PICU teams. As the critical care field continues to focus on an improved understanding of post-intensive care syndrome in pediatrics and the psychological needs of critical care patients, it will be important to consider the vital roles of psychologists and to advocate for improved integration of mental health care in PICUs.

Post-PICU Cognitive and Psychological Outcomes in Children Receiving Treatments for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

OBJECTIVES

To examine neurocognitive and psychological outcomes associated with post-PICU admissions in children treated for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

DESIGN

Observational study from October 2007 to March 2017.

SETTING

Pediatric onco-critical care unit.

PATIENTS

All patients in this study (n = 296; ages 3-21) were treated for ALL on the St. Jude Total Therapy 16 clinical trial (NCT00549848) from 2007 to 2017. Of these, 104 patients were admitted to the PICU during protocol-directed therapy. All patients completed protocol-directed neurocognitive monitoring prospectively, at the end of cancer-directed therapy. Data on PICU stays were abstracted retrospectively from the medical record.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Demographic and critical illness variables were abstracted from institutional databases and medical records. Neurocognitive and psychosocial outcomes were prospectively obtained at the end of treatment. Children who had a PICU admission experienced significantly lower functioning compared to normative samples in several areas of cognitive functioning (working memory, processing speed, executive functions, inattention, math achievement, fine motor dexterity, and speed), daily living skills, and internalizing problems (all ps < 0.05). Compared with those without PICU admissions, patients with PICU admissions had worse performance on a measure of sustained attention (p = 0.017). The frequency of patients at risk for problems with learning and memory was significantly higher in the PICU group compared with the non-PICU group (25% vs 12%, p = 0.006). Critical illness symptom severity was not associated with neurocognitive or psychological outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Children with ALL, with or without a PICU admission, experienced lower cognitive and psychological outcomes following treatment. Future research is needed to continue identifying risk factors for post-intensive care syndrome (PICS-p) and post-PICU cognitive and psychological impairments in pediatric patients.

Rebuilding trust

Lack of trust is a major problem in our current health care system and is increasingly becoming a focus in the literature and in national discussions on how to better understand, address, and resolve. In this narrative essay, I share how I wrestled with rebuilding trust after my own adverse experiences with medical error, surgery complications, and communication challenges. This perspective highlights the critical importance of physician communication and trust in the patient-physician relationship.

Beginning Restorative Activities Very Early: Implementation of an Early Mobility Initiative in a Pediatric Onco-Critical Care Unit

Introduction

Children with underlying oncologic and hematologic diseases who require critical care services have unique risk factors for developing functional impairments from pediatric post-intensive care syndrome (PICS-p). Early mobilization and rehabilitation programs offer a promising approach for mitigating the effects of PICS-p in oncology patients but have not yet been studied in this high-risk population.

Methods

We describe the development and feasibility of implementing an early mobility quality improvement initiative in a dedicated pediatric onco-critical care unit. Our primary outcomes include the percentage of patients with consults for rehabilitation services within 72 h of admission, the percentage of patients who are mobilized within 72 h of admission, and the percentage of patients with a positive delirium screen after 48 h of admission.

Results

Between January 2019 and June 2020, we significantly increased the proportion of patients with consults ordered for rehabilitation services within 72 h of admission from 25 to 56% (p<0.001), increased the percentage of patients who were mobilized within 72 h of admission to the intensive care unit from 21 to 30% (p=0.02), and observed a decrease in patients with positive delirium screens from 43 to 37% (p=0.46). The early mobility initiative was not associated with an increase in unplanned extubations, unintentional removal of central venous catheters, or injury to patient or staff.

Conclusions

Our experience supports the safety and feasibility of early mobility initiatives in pediatric onco-critical care. Additional evaluation is needed to determine the effects of early mobilization on patient outcomes.

Venetoclax in combination with cytarabine with or without idarubicin in children with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukaemia: a phase 1, dose-escalation study

BACKGROUND

Outcomes for children with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukaemia remain poor. The BCL-2 inhibitor, venetoclax, has shown promising activity in combination with hypomethylating agents and low-dose cytarabine in older adults for whom chemotherapy is not suitable with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukaemia. We aimed to determine the safety and explore the activity of venetoclax in combination with standard and high-dose chemotherapy in paediatric patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukaemia.

METHODS

We did a phase 1, dose-escalation study at three research hospitals in the USA. Eligible patients were aged 2-22 years with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukaemia or acute leukaemia of ambiguous lineage with adequate organ function and performance status. During dose escalation, participants received venetoclax orally once per day in continuous 28-day cycles at either 240 mg/m2 or 360 mg/m2, in combination with cytarabine received intravenously every 12 h at either 100 mg/m2 for 20 doses or 1000 mg/m2 for eight doses, with or without intravenous idarubicin (12 mg/m2) as a single dose, using a rolling-6 accrual strategy. The primary endpoint was the recommended phase 2 dose of venetoclax plus chemotherapy and the secondary endpoint was the proportion of patients treated at the recommended phase 2 dose who achieved complete remission or complete remission with incomplete haematological recovery. Analyses were done on patients who received combination therapy. The study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03194932) and is now enrolling to address secondary and exploratory objectives.

FINDINGS

Between July 1, 2017, and July 2, 2019, 38 patients were enrolled (aged 3-22 years; median 10 [IQR 7-13]), 36 of whom received combination therapy with dose escalation, with a median follow-up of 7·1 months (IQR 5·1-11·2). The recommended phase 2 dose of venetoclax was found to be 360 mg/m2 (maximum 600 mg) combined with cytarabine (1000 mg/m2 per dose for eight doses), with or without idarubicin (12 mg/m2 as a single dose). Overall responses were observed in 24 (69%) of the 35 patients who were evaluable after cycle 1. Among the 20 patients treated at the recommended phase 2 dose, 14 (70%, 95% CI 46-88) showed complete response with or without complete haematological recovery, and two (10%) showed partial response. The most common grade 3-4 adverse events were febrile neutropenia (22 [66%]), bloodstream infections (six [16%]), and invasive fungal infections (six [16%]). Treatment-related death occurred in one patient due to colitis and sepsis.

INTERPRETATION

The safety and activity of venetoclax plus chemotherapy in paediatric patients with heavily relapsed and refractory acute myeloid leukaemia suggests that this combination should be tested in newly diagnosed paediatric patients with high-risk acute myeloid leukaemia.

FUNDING

US National Institutes of Health, American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities, AbbVie, and Gateway for Cancer Research.

Safety and activity of venetoclax in combination with high-dose cytarabine in children with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia

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Background: Venetoclax is an orally available BCL-2 antagonist with demonstrated activity in adults with newly diagnosed or relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Here, we describe the first use of venetoclax 1) in combination with high-dose cytarabine and idarubicin 2) in patients 2-22 years old with relapsed AML. Methods: Patients with relapsed AML or AML refractory to at least two courses of induction therapy were enrolled in this Phase 1 study with a rolling-six design. All patients received venetoclax (240 or 360 mg/m2) on days 1-28 and low-dose (LD: 100 mg/m2 every 12 hours x 20 doses) or high-dose (HD: 1000 mg/m2 every 12 hours x 8 doses) cytarabine beginning on day 8 (Table). Patients who had previously received < 270 mg/m2 of doxorubicin equivalents also received idarubicin 12 mg/m2 on day 8 in dose level 4; other patients were enrolled on the expansion cohort at dose level 3. Non-hematologic CTCAE grade 3 or higher toxicities were intensity limiting (ILT), excluding those anticipated with HD cytarabine. Results: Among 18 evaluable patients, a single ILT (prolonged hematological suppression beyond day 50) was observed (Table). Toxicities were consistent with the underlying cytotoxic chemotherapy, with 14 patients experiencing a total of 40 grade 3 toxicities including 6 documented infections and 23 episodes of febrile neutropenia. There was 1 grade 4 fungal sepsis. The recommended phase 2 dose of venetoclax was 360 mg/m2 (max 600 mg) when combined with HD cytarabine or HD cytarabine/idarubicin. Of the 12 patients with > 50% reduction in blasts following the 7-day venetoclax window therapy, end-of-cycle marrow responses included 7 CR/CRi and 3 PR. Minimal residual disease negative remissions occurred in 4 patients. BH3 profiling of samples and a phase 2 expansion of both dose levels 3 and 4 to further characterize the promising activity of these combinations are underway. Conclusions: Venetoclax combined with cytarabine or cytarabine/idarubicin is active and well tolerated in pediatric patients with relapsed/ refractory AML. Clinical trial information: NCT03194932. [Table: see text]

Ethical issues in the care of adolescent and young adult oncology patients

The diagnosis and treatment of cancer leads to short-term and long-term challenges for every patient. This is especially true for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer who strive to gain independence, autonomy, confidence, and social status while developing into adulthood. In this article, we review prominent ethical issues in AYA oncology that are related to autonomy, shared decision-making, care refusal or abandonment, end-of-life care, truth telling, and fertility preservation. Clinicians should recognize that AYA patients develop at their own pace; the onus lies with clinicians to determine the patient's interests, values, maturity, and desire to participate in decision-making.

Parent Management Training and Collaborative & Proactive Solutions: A Randomized Control Trial for Oppositional Youth

This study examined the efficacy of Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) in treating oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) in youth by comparing this novel treatment to Parent Management Training (PMT), a well-established treatment, and a waitlist control (WLC) group. One hundred thirty-four youth (ages 7-14, 61.9% male, 83.6% White) who fulfilled Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.) criteria for ODD were randomized to CPS, PMT, or WLC groups. ODD was assessed with semistructured diagnostic interviews, clinical global severity and improvement ratings, and parent report measures. Assessments were completed pretreatment, posttreatment, and at 6 months following treatment. Responder and remitter analyses were undertaken using intent-to-treat mixed-models analyses. Chronological age, gender, and socioeconomic status as well as the presence of comorbid attention deficit/hyperactivity and anxiety disorders were examined as predictors of treatment outcome. Both treatment conditions were superior to the WLC condition but did not differ from one another in either our responder or remitter analyses. Approximately 50% of youth in both active treatments were diagnosis free and were judged to be much or very much improved at posttreatment, compared to 0% in the waitlist condition. Younger age and presence of an anxiety disorder predicted better treatment outcomes for both PMT and CPS. Treatment gains were maintained at 6-month follow-up. CPS proved to be equivalent to PMT and can be considered an evidence-based, alternative treatment for youth with ODD and their families.

Specific phobias in youth: a randomized controlled trial comparing one-session treatment to a parent-augmented one-session treatment

OBJECTIVE

Examine the efficacy of a parent-augmented One-Session Treatment (A-OST) in treating specific phobias (SP) in youth by comparing this novel treatment to child-focused OST, a well-established treatment.

METHOD

A total of 97 youth (ages 6-15, 51.5% female, 84.5% White) who fulfilled diagnostic criteria for SP were randomized to either A-OST or OST. SPs were assessed with semistructured diagnostic interviews, clinician improvement ratings, and parent and child improvement ratings. In addition, measures of treatment satisfaction and parental self-efficacy were obtained. Blind assessments were completed pretreatment, posttreatment, and 1month and 6months following treatment. Analyses were undertaken using mixed models. In addition, gender, age, internalizing/externalizing problems, parent overprotection, and parent anxiety were examined as potential predictors and moderators of treatment outcome.

RESULTS

Both treatment conditions produced similar outcomes with approximately 50% of youth in both treatments diagnosis free and judged to be much or very much improved at posttreatment and 1-month follow-up. At 6-month follow-up, however, the treatments diverged with OST resulting in marginally superior outcomes to A-OST, contrary to predictions. Only age of child predicted treatment outcome across the two treatments (older children did better); unexpectedly, none of the variables moderated treatment outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Parent augmentation of OST produced no appreciable gains in treatment outcomes. Directions for future research are highlighted.

The fears, phobias and anxieties of children with autism spectrum disorders and Down syndrome: comparisons with developmentally and chronologically age matched children

This study compared the fears and behavior problems of 25 children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), 43 children with Down syndrome (DS), 45 mental age (MA) matched children, and 37 chronologically age (CA) matched children. Children's fears, phobias, anxieties and behavioral problems were assessed using parent reports. Significant differences emerged across the diagnostic groups on a variety of fears. Children with ASD were reported to have more situation phobias and medical fears, but fewer fears of harm/injury compared to all other groups. The groups also differed in terms of the pattern of correlations between fears, phobias, anxieties and behavior problems. For children with ASD, fears, phobias and anxieties were closely related to problem behaviors, whereas fears, phobias, and anxieties were less related to behavioral symptoms for the other groups of subjects. Such findings suggest that children with ASD exhibit a distinct profile of fear and anxiety compared to other mental age and chronologically age-matched children, and these fears are related to the symptoms associated with ASD.