Role of a palliative care team psychologist in children with HR neuroblastoma

Psychological and psychotherapeutic care represents an integral part of multidisciplinary approach provided by palliative care team. In children with severe diagnosis and unfavourable prognosis such as HR neuroblastoma, psychological care plays a crucial role in providing support to the sick child and his family with the intention to help them in adaptation in the new challenging situation and in the process of anticancer treatment. The type of psychological care and frequency of psychological interventions are determined by family needs, treatment phase and individual characteristics of the patient. The article presents the role of psychologist in pediatric palliative care team in University Hospital Motol in Prague provided towards the patient, his parents and siblings in specific phases of the anticancer treatment.