OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study are to characterize the levels of emotional distress and quality of life among caregivers of lung transplant candidates and to examine the relation of coping styles and perceived caregiver burden to caregivers' self-reported emotional distress. METHODS: A consecutive series of primary caregivers of potential lung transplant candidates completed a battery of psychosocial measures, including the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire (MCMQ), Scale for Caregiver Burden (SCB), and Medical Outcomes Survey, Short Form-36 (SF-36). RESULTS: Only 12 of the 82 caregivers (14.6%) who volunteered for the study reported clinically significant levels of depression (BDI-II > or =14), and only 2 caregivers (2.4%) reported clinically significant levels of anxiety (STAI > or =60). Passive coping strategies were associated with higher levels of emotional distress; specifically, resignation was associated with increased depression (r=.27, P<.04), while avoidance was associated with increased anxiety (r=.29, P<.04). In addition, caregivers who reported greater perceived caregiver burden experienced higher levels of depression (r=.45, P<.001) and anxiety (r=.43, P<.01). Moreover, the social functioning of caregivers of lung transplant patients was more than one standard deviation from a normative sample of the population (Cohen's d=1.16), indicating that caregivers of transplant patients experienced greater impairment in this area. DISCUSSION: Although most caregivers of transplant patients do not report significant impairment in functioning, assessing caregivers' coping strategies and caregiving burden may identify those caregivers who experience increased emotional distress.
OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study are to characterize the levels of emotional distress and quality of life among caregivers of lung transplant candidates and to examine the relation of coping styles and perceived caregiver burden to caregivers' self-reported emotional distress. METHODS: A consecutive series of primary caregivers of potential lung transplant candidates completed a battery of psychosocial measures, including the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire (MCMQ), Scale for Caregiver Burden (SCB), and Medical Outcomes Survey, Short Form-36 (SF-36). RESULTS: Only 12 of the 82 caregivers (14.6%) who volunteered for the study reported clinically significant levels of depression (BDI-II > or =14), and only 2 caregivers (2.4%) reported clinically significant levels of anxiety (STAI > or =60). Passive coping strategies were associated with higher levels of emotional distress; specifically, resignation was associated with increased depression (r=.27, P<.04), while avoidance was associated with increased anxiety (r=.29, P<.04). In addition, caregivers who reported greater perceived caregiver burden experienced higher levels of depression (r=.45, P<.001) and anxiety (r=.43, P<.01). Moreover, the social functioning of caregivers of lung transplant patients was more than one standard deviation from a normative sample of the population (Cohen's d=1.16), indicating that caregivers of transplant patients experienced greater impairment in this area. DISCUSSION: Although most caregivers of transplant patients do not report significant impairment in functioning, assessing caregivers' coping strategies and caregiving burden may identify those caregivers who experience increased emotional distress.
Authors: Amy M Goetzinger; James A Blumenthal; C Virginia O'Hayer; Michael A Babyak; Benson M Hoffman; Lephuong Ong; R Duane Davis; Stephen R Smith; Joseph G Rogers; Carmelo A Milano; Alastair D Smith; Paul C Kuo; Scott M Palmer Journal: Clin Transplant Date: 2011-03-13 Impact factor: 2.863
Authors: Teresa L Simoneau; Susan K Mikulich-Gilbertson; Crystal Natvig; Kristin Kilbourn; Janet Spradley; Rachel Grzywa-Cobb; Samuel Philips; Peter McSweeney; Mark L Laudenslager Journal: Psychooncology Date: 2013-02-25 Impact factor: 3.894
Authors: James A Blumenthal; Francis J Keefe; Michael A Babyak; C Virginia Fenwick; Julie M Johnson; Kylie Stott; Rachel K Funk; Meredith J McAdams; Scott Palmer; Tereza Martinu; Don Baucom; Philip T Diaz; Charles F Emery Journal: Clin Trials Date: 2009-04 Impact factor: 2.486
Authors: Emily M Rosenberger; Mary Amanda Dew; Andrea F DiMartini; Annette J DeVito Dabbs; Roger D Yusen Journal: Thorac Surg Clin Date: 2012-11 Impact factor: 1.750
Authors: L Myaskovsky; D M Posluszny; R Schulz; A F DiMartini; G E Switzer; A DeVito Dabbs; M L McNulty; R L Kormos; Y Toyoda; M A Dew Journal: Am J Transplant Date: 2012-09-07 Impact factor: 8.086