Building emotional strength for teens with sickle cell disease

This study is testing a program called PRISM that teaches coping skills to help young people with sickle cell disease build emotional resilience. The program is delivered one-on-one with trained staff as part of a coordinated care team at Boston Children's Hospital. Researchers want to see whether this approach is practical, acceptable, and helpful for improving mental health and quality of life.

Teenagers and young adults with sickle cell disease often face extra challenges—including racial bias, disease-related stigma, and pain that isn't always well-managed—which can affect their mental health and well-being. This trial exists because there is a gap in mental health support for young people with this condition, and the team hopes to create a sustainable way to deliver emotional support alongside their regular medical care.