Background. Thalassemia and type-1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) are highly prevalent chronic diseases in children and adolescents in Indonesia. The presence of chronic diseases will increase the risk of psychosocial problems by 2 to 6 times compared with healthy populations. Psychosocial problems in adolescents are difficult to recognize, so routine evaluation is necessary. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is a practical and user-friendly screening instrument to detect the problem. Objective. Knowing the magnitude of psychosocial problems in adolescents with chronic diseases at a tertiary and teaching hospital, Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta. This study focused on two chronic diseases; thalassemia and type-1 diabetes mellitus. Methods. A cross-sectional design study was conducted on a total of 140 adolescents, consisting of 100 major thalassemia patients and 40 T1DM, aged 10-18 years and had been suffering from the diseases for at least 3 months. Adolescents were asked to fill SDQ self-report form. Result. Prevalence of abnormal total difficulties score is 8% in thalassemia major and 15% in T1DM. There were no abnormal scores on the pro-social subscale of both diseases, and peer problems subscale of the DM type-1 group. No correlation between diagnosis of disease, sex, and education background of T1DM on SDQ result. Conclusion. Results indicate a higher presence of psychosocial problems in adolescents with T1DM than major thalassemia.

Bernie E. Medise has completed her pediatric degree and doctoral degree at Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia. She also took Developmental Behavioral – Community Pediatric Consultant at the same university. She received Master of Public Health from University of Nebraska Medical Center, USA in 2012. Currently, she is the head of Developmental Behavioral – Community Pediatric Division at Child Health Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia. She has an interest in adolescent medicine and was the chairwoman of Adolescent Task Force of Indonesian Pediatrics Society. She is also a member of SAG on Adolescent of IPA. She is currently also an executive board member of Indonesian Pediatric Society.