Symptom Targeted Intervention (STI) in Hemophilia: Brief strategies to reduce emotional distress and strengthen self-care
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v14i12.50438Keywords:
Hemophilia, Self-care, Evaluation of the outcome of therapeutic interventions, Cognitive-behavioral therapy, Health strategies.Abstract
Hemophilia remains a complex chronic condition in which recent therapeutic advances, including extended half-life factor concentrates and individualized prophylaxis, do not eliminate the emotional burden associated with pain, functional limitations, and the persistent fear of bleeding episodes. Contemporary studies indicate that anticipatory anxiety, pain catastrophizing, depressive symptoms, and low self-efficacy significantly impair health-related quality of life and treatment adherence, highlighting the need for structured, symptom-focused psychological approaches. Brief psychological interventions have demonstrated efficacy across chronic conditions by reducing emotional distress and strengthening self-management behaviors. Among these models, the Symptom Targeted Intervention (STI), originally developed for managing depression in hemodialysis patients, presents strong potential for application in hemophilia due to its emphasis on concise sessions, symptom-specific focus, and clinical integration. This study aimed to present an integrative literature review, encompassing publications between 2021 and 2025, in order to identify predominant symptoms, analyze evidence of brief interventions, and propose an STI model adapted to the hemophilia context.Ten studies met eligibility criteria. The findings suggest that emotional and functional processes observed in hemophilia mirror those present in other chronic illnesses where STI has proven effective, supporting its theoretical and clinical relevance. An adapted model is proposed, comprising focal assessment, brief cognitive-behavioral strategies, self-care training, and multiprofessional coordination. The study concludes that an STI-based protocol may significantly advance psychological care in hemophilia by promoting autonomy, improving adherence, and reducing emotional suffering.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Weber de Santana Teles, Max Cruz da Silva, Douglas Abilio, Ana Paula Barreto Prata Silva, Orleane Souza Rezende, Carlos Henrique Santiago Martins, Lorena Eugênia Rosa Coelho, Ádamo Newton Marinho Andrade , Raphael Davisson Lopes Santos, Rute dos Santos Souza
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