When a child faces cancer or another serious illness, the main focus, of necessity, is on a cure. What is often overlooked in the maze of medical treatments is the emotional and psychological toll on families.

Now, evidence shows that problems coping can interfere with medical care and families’ adherence to treatment. And emotional issues can cause longer-term complications for both parents and children. More hospitals are working to prevent such headwinds by formally assessing families for concerns ranging from financial worries and child-care gaps to sibling problems, depression, and anger-management issues.

One screening program being used in a growing number of pediatric cancer centers in the U.S. and in several other countries is known as PAT, for Psychosocial Assessment Tool. It has been shown to detect significant problems and predict later difficulties. Available in about a dozen languages, it has also been adapted for use with congenital heart disease, organ transplant and other conditions.

A family is typically screened after a patient’s diagnosis and a score helps medical teams stratify them into three levels of risk. About 15% fall into a high-risk category that may need immediate services such as behavioral counseling.

“We can quickly get a snapshot of what is going on with a family and treat or refer them to the help they need,” says Anne Kazak, who developed PAT and directs the Nemours Center for Healthcare Delivery Science at the Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Del. Research shows, for example, that teaching mothers coping skills shortly after a child is diagnosed with cancer not only alleviates distress but can provide long-term benefits to the family.