Application of the Attachment Theory in Psychological Consulting of Parents Whose Children Undergoing Cancer Treatment and of Medical Staff in Open Intensive Care Units, Illustrated by Two Clinical Cases

In Russia, as in the rest of the world, there is a system of providing psychological support to pediatric patients that keeps improving and includes supporting not only the child patient but also their parents accompanying the child throughout the treatment. A legislative decision has also been made in the country to establish open intensive care units where parents can stay with their children. Despite reducing stress in children, this practice generates certain psychological pressure for parents as well as for medical staff working in open intensive care units; these medical workers constantly interact with parents who are under immense emotional stress due to the threat of losing the child. Drawing from two clinical cases of parents accompanying their children in intensive care, the article defines some common features of their psychological and emotional condition as well as communication with medical workers that can be described and analyzed based on J. Bowlby’s attachment theory. Applying the attachment theory in psychological consultation of all those involved in the treatment process (patient — parent — medical worker) allows for more effective psychological support to each. This article focuses on psychological support for parents and medical workers.

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