Childhood chronic illness: issues for psychotherapists.

Chronic illness in childhood is an increasingly common phenomenon. It carries with it special psychosocial challenges for both the ill child and the family. Effective family functioning can promote successful adaptation to chronic illness. Maladaptation to chronic illness is associated with family dysfunction. Psychotherapists, with knowledge of the child's illness and the tasks to be accomplished by the child and his family, can collaborate with the child's physician and carry out goal-directed therapy so that the illness is managed as successfully as possible and so that the family promotes the growth and development of all family members.