Biomaterial Database

An autistic boy copes with a terminal illness. 1990

R L Hendren, and W S Taylor, and B J Lemke, and P A Lemke

Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque 87131.

David, a 12-year-old boy with autism, developed Ewing's Sarcoma and died 3 months later. This report describes the effects of both illnesses on David, his parents, and his care givers. The difficulties encountered in finding appropriate help in the care of both illnesses and in making difficult decisions are described. The presence of autism can affect medical management and the presence of terminal illness can affect the management of autism. Suggestions are offered for effective medical and psychiatric interventions that include a sensitivity to both illnesses in physicians and other care givers; a case manager to help find appropriate medical and psychiatric services; and the availability of combined medical and psychiatric units.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D010386	Pelvic Neoplasms	Tumors or cancer of the pelvic region.	Cancer of Pelvis,Pelvic Cancer,Cancer of the Pelvis,Neoplasms of Pelvis,Pelvis Cancer,Pelvis Neoplasms,Cancer, Pelvic,Cancer, Pelvis,Cancers, Pelvic,Cancers, Pelvis,Neoplasm, Pelvic,Neoplasm, Pelvis,Neoplasms, Pelvic,Neoplasms, Pelvis,Pelvic Cancers,Pelvic Neoplasm,Pelvis Cancers,Pelvis Neoplasm
D006117	Grief	Normal, appropriate sorrowful response to an immediate cause. It is self-limiting and gradually subsides within a reasonable time.	Mourning,Griefs,Mournings
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000223	Adaptation, Psychological	A state of harmony between internal needs and external demands and the processes used in achieving this condition. (From APA Thesaurus of Psychological Index Terms, 8th ed).	Behavior, Adaptive,Healthy Adaptation,Positive Adaptation,Psychological Recovery,Adaptation, Psychologic,Adjustment,Psychological Adaptation,Adaptation, Healthy,Adaptation, Positive,Adaptive Behavior,Adaptive Behaviors,Healthy Adaptations,Positive Adaptations,Psychologic Adaptation,Psychological Recoveries,Recovery, Psychological
D001321	Autistic Disorder	A disorder beginning in childhood. It is marked by the presence of markedly abnormal or impaired development in social interaction and communication and a markedly restricted repertoire of activity and interest. Manifestations of the disorder vary greatly depending on the developmental level and chronological age of the individual. (DSM-V)	Autism, Infantile,Kanner's Syndrome,Autism,Autism, Early Infantile,Disorder, Autistic,Disorders, Autistic,Early Infantile Autism,Infantile Autism,Infantile Autism, Early,Kanner Syndrome,Kanners Syndrome
D012512	Sarcoma, Ewing	A malignant tumor of the bone which always arises in the medullary tissue, occurring more often in cylindrical bones. The tumor occurs usually before the age of 20, about twice as frequently in males as in females.	Ewing's Tumor,Sarcoma, Ewing's,Ewing Sarcoma,Ewing Tumor,Ewing's Sarcoma,Ewings Sarcoma,Ewings Tumor,Sarcoma, Ewings,Tumor, Ewing,Tumor, Ewing's
D012803	Sick Role	Set of expectations that exempt persons from responsibility for their illness and exempt them from usual responsibilities.	Role, Sick,Roles, Sick,Sick Roles
D013727	Terminal Care	Medical and nursing care of patients in the terminal stage of an illness.	End-Of-Life Care,End of Life Care,Care, End-Of-Life,Care, Terminal,End-Of-Life Cares