Mental Health Assessment of Youth with Sickle Cell Disease and Their
Primary Caregivers During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Abstract
Youth with sickle cell disease (SCD) and their caregivers are
susceptible to stress and depression, perhaps exacerbated by
pandemic-associated health and economic concerns. Most of the 50
youth-caregiver dyads enrolled in the multi-site HABIT trial took an
on-line survey of self-reported mental health symptoms and food
insecurity during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. Compared to largely
pre-pandemic results, prevalence of mental health symptoms in dyad
members appeared to have shifted: fewer youth and more caregivers were
affected during the pandemic; many of both groups lacked optimism.
Pandemic screening of youth with SCD for mental health symptoms and food
insecurity appears warranted.