OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the desire of patients with advanced cancer for hastened death to determine its relationship to psychological distress, anxiety and pain. METHODS: One hundred twenty terminally ill cancer patients were surveyed from June to November 2003 at a palliative care unit in Athens, Greece. Greek versions of the Schedule of Attitudes Toward Hastened Death (G-SAHD), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (G-HADS) and the Brief Pain Inventory were administered. RESULTS: Significant correlations were seen between desire for hasten death and HADS-Depression (r=.605; P<.0005) and HADS-Anxiety (r=.636; P<.0005) scores. Results of multiple regression analyses showed that the HADS-Depression scale (B=.443; P<.0005) as well as the HADS-Anxiety scale (B=.326; P<.0005) and the interaction between HADS-Depression and opioids (B=-.159; P=.012), but not pain intensity, pain-related interference, age, sex, patient's performance status as defined by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group as well as the interactions between average pain and opioids and average pain and HADS-Depression, were significant predictors of G-SAHD scores. CONCLUSIONS: In terminally ill cancer patients, depression and anxiety as well as the interaction between HADS-Depression and opioids appeared to have a significant impact on the desire for hastened death while pain does not. Effective management of psychological symptoms seems to be an important aspect of adequate palliative care in order to reduce the desire for hastened death.
OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the desire of patients with advanced cancer for hastened death to determine its relationship to psychological distress, anxiety and pain. METHODS: One hundred twenty terminally ill cancerpatients were surveyed from June to November 2003 at a palliative care unit in Athens, Greece. Greek versions of the Schedule of Attitudes Toward Hastened Death (G-SAHD), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (G-HADS) and the Brief Pain Inventory were administered. RESULTS: Significant correlations were seen between desire for hasten death and HADS-Depression (r=.605; P<.0005) and HADS-Anxiety (r=.636; P<.0005) scores. Results of multiple regression analyses showed that the HADS-Depression scale (B=.443; P<.0005) as well as the HADS-Anxiety scale (B=.326; P<.0005) and the interaction between HADS-Depression and opioids (B=-.159; P=.012), but not pain intensity, pain-related interference, age, sex, patient's performance status as defined by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group as well as the interactions between average pain and opioids and average pain and HADS-Depression, were significant predictors of G-SAHD scores. CONCLUSIONS: In terminally ill cancerpatients, depression and anxiety as well as the interaction between HADS-Depression and opioids appeared to have a significant impact on the desire for hastened death while pain does not. Effective management of psychological symptoms seems to be an important aspect of adequate palliative care in order to reduce the desire for hastened death.
Authors: Miguel Julião; Maria Ana Sobral; Paula Calçada; Bárbara Antunes; Daniela Runa; Catarina Samorinha; Harvey Max Chochinov; William Breitbart Journal: Palliat Support Care Date: 2021-08
Authors: Albert Balaguer; Cristina Monforte-Royo; Josep Porta-Sales; Alberto Alonso-Babarro; Rogelio Altisent; Amor Aradilla-Herrero; Mercedes Bellido-Pérez; William Breitbart; Carlos Centeno; Miguel Angel Cuervo; Luc Deliens; Gerrit Frerich; Chris Gastmans; Stephanie Lichtenfeld; Joaquín T Limonero; Markus A Maier; Lars Johan Materstvedt; María Nabal; Gary Rodin; Barry Rosenfeld; Tracy Schroepfer; Joaquín Tomás-Sábado; Jordi Trelis; Christian Villavicencio-Chávez; Raymond Voltz Journal: PLoS One Date: 2016-01-04 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Livia Anquinet; J Rietjens; A van der Heide; Sophie Bruinsma; Rien Janssens; Luc Deliens; Julia Addington-Hall; W Henry Smithson; Jane Seymour Journal: Psychooncology Date: 2013-12-05 Impact factor: 3.894