QOL-14. Long term neurocognitive and psychosocial outcomes among adolescents and young adults survivors of paediatric brain tumour.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to describe neurocognitive and psychological outcomes among adolescents and young adults (AYA) survivors of paediatric brain tumour (BT). METHODS: neurocognitive and psychological assessment of 45 AYA (M = 30; F = 15), treated for paediatric BT at our institution between 1978 and 2018, were retrospectively collected. Survivors received psychological and neurocognitive assessment at a mean age of 21.4 years (range 15.11-39.4) after a median of 120 months from diagnosis. The assessment was carried out using the following self-report questionnaires: Beck Depression Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Body Uneasiness Test, Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory, European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of LifeQuestionnaire. Neurocognitive evaluation was carried out using Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. RESULTS: 18/45 survivors had received a diagnosis of germ cell tumor, 12 of low grades glioma, 10 of embryonal tumor, 3 of high-grade glioma, 2 of meninges and mesenchymal tumor. Thirty-four patients received neurosurgery, 34 patients chemotherapy, 44 patients cranial radiotherapy. Fatigue was reported in 56% of the patients, 15% of them also showed low level of QoL. The psychological assessment showed clinical levels of anxiety in 56% of AYA, depression in 41% and body image problems in 29%. Neurocognitive assessment showed that 73% has an average tIQ (tIQ ≥ 80). CONCLUSIONS: The psychological evaluation showed that 77% of our cohort had at least one clinically significant distress symptom as fatigue, depressive symptoms, anxiety and body image problems, compared to 23% who did not report any problem. Further analysis is needed to identify any possible psychopathological risk factors. It is essential to provide an accurate and comprehensive assessment and effective psychological support to these patients, to help them better manage the late effects of cancer and therapies at different levels: physical, psychological and neurocognitive.