PURPOSE: Sarcoma patients are a particularly debilitated group and vulnerable to the development of significant psychosocial difficulties. In this study we examine the prevalence and levels of anxiety and depression in different phases of disease and we analyse the determinants of sarcoma patients' emotional adjustment. METHOD: One hundred and forty two sarcoma patients in different phases of the cancer experience were recruited from three Portuguese Cancer Care Units and completed the Portuguese version of HADS. RESULTS: The majority of sarcoma patients, in the different phases of disease, reported normal or mild levels of anxiety and depression but, for a significant minority, the emotional distress was clinically relevant. In general, anxiety and depression scores were below the cut-off "caseness" threshold of 11 and, with the exception of depression levels for patients in treatment phase, no differences were found between groups on the outcome measures. Age, gender, presenting status and time since the termination of treatments were found to be significant determinants of anxiety and depression. CONCLUSIONS: In the different phases of the disease an important number of patients may show significant psychological distress and, therefore, psychosocial interventions adapted to each period of the illness trajectory and to the demographic and clinical contexts are needed for this type of cancer.
PURPOSE:Sarcomapatients are a particularly debilitated group and vulnerable to the development of significant psychosocial difficulties. In this study we examine the prevalence and levels of anxiety and depression in different phases of disease and we analyse the determinants of sarcomapatients' emotional adjustment. METHOD: One hundred and forty two sarcomapatients in different phases of the cancer experience were recruited from three Portuguese Cancer Care Units and completed the Portuguese version of HADS. RESULTS: The majority of sarcomapatients, in the different phases of disease, reported normal or mild levels of anxiety and depression but, for a significant minority, the emotional distress was clinically relevant. In general, anxiety and depression scores were below the cut-off "caseness" threshold of 11 and, with the exception of depression levels for patients in treatment phase, no differences were found between groups on the outcome measures. Age, gender, presenting status and time since the termination of treatments were found to be significant determinants of anxiety and depression. CONCLUSIONS: In the different phases of the disease an important number of patients may show significant psychological distress and, therefore, psychosocial interventions adapted to each period of the illness trajectory and to the demographic and clinical contexts are needed for this type of cancer.
Authors: Richard W Gurich; Amy M Cizik; Stephanie E Punt; Michael Namekata; Christopher N Johnson; Rebecca G Symons; Elena G Brewer; Matthew J Thompson Journal: Clin Orthop Relat Res Date: 2020-03 Impact factor: 4.755
Authors: Lesley Storey; Lorna A Fern; Ana Martins; Mary Wells; Lindsey Bennister; Craig Gerrand; Maria Onasanya; Jeremy S Whelan; Rachael Windsor; Julie Woodford; Rachel M Taylor Journal: Sarcoma Date: 2019-02-17