P0218 - Social and psychological aspects of haemophilia

Abstract

Hemophilia is a life threatening, life long condition caused by absence of or defective coagulation factors. Our clinical experiences show us, that patients with haemophilia, especially older patients, who did not use prophylactic treatment, often are under negative stress and suffer from different psychological problems. They have difficulties talking about their feelings and emotional life and use several defence mechanisms to reduce their mental pain. They start to talk about their feelings late during the psychological treatment. Aim of our study will be to evaluate social and psychological aspects of haemophilia during the long-term psychotherapy and compare them with the ESCHQoL Study results.

Background:

Clinical experiences.

Patients with haemophilia often experience high level of anxiety for the risk of bleeding and difficulty in coping with the situation. Comparison between the clinical data and the ESCHQoL Study results showed us, that patients with haemophilia initially tend to denial anxiety, which manifest itself more often through the body symptoms. Some of our patients experienced stigmatised behaviours during their childhood, which, of course is very traumatising.

Conclusion:

The ESCHQoL Study results, especially the part, which evaluate the social and psychological problems of patients with haemophilia should be interpret with the caution. Clinical experiences in working with patients with haemophilia have shown that they have difficulties in expressing feelings. During the long-term psychological work with the patients they progresivelly start to open emotionally and the level and quality of their defence mechanisms start to change. As a consequence the management of haemophilia often improves.