Eva Mazzotti1, Claudia Sebastiani, Gian Carlo Antonini Cappellini, Paolo Marchetti. 1. Divisione di Oncologia e Oncologia Dermatologica, Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, IDI-IRCCS, Via dei Monti di Creta, 104, 00167, Rome, Italy. eva.mazzotti@tiscali.it
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Patients' care has been associated with a high burden of psychological symptoms in caregivers. This study identifies characteristics associated with mood disorders in caregivers of cancer patients. METHODS: One hundred fifty-two caregivers, aged 24-78 years (average age 51; 60 % females), of cancer patients completed Family Strain Questionnaire (FSQ), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Impact of Event Scale (IES), and Coping Orientations to the Problems Experienced. We combined this information with patient chart abstraction data. RESULTS: Sixty-three percent of females and 38 % of males were scored as positive when screened for mood disorders, as measured by HADS (total score ≥ 16), and 17 and 5 % for emotional distress as measured by IES (total score ≥ 50). High scores in FSQ-satisfaction with family relationships and FSQ-need for more information about cancer, and low scores in FSQ-thoughts about death are reported. FSQ-emotional burden and FSQ-problems in social involvement are the areas more compromised in females, compared to males. Females, compared to males, use emotional-oriented coping strategies more frequently. Factors independently associated with mood disorders included emotional burden, problems in social involvement, and non-attendance of meeting places; help and assistance from public local services (for patients) decreased the risk of mood disorders in caregivers. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of mood disorders is high in cancer patients' caregivers. These results highlight the need to develop family intervention strategies to minimize the impact of patient's care on caregivers' mental health.
INTRODUCTION:Patients' care has been associated with a high burden of psychological symptoms in caregivers. This study identifies characteristics associated with mood disorders in caregivers of cancerpatients. METHODS: One hundred fifty-two caregivers, aged 24-78 years (average age 51; 60 % females), of cancerpatients completed Family Strain Questionnaire (FSQ), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Impact of Event Scale (IES), and Coping Orientations to the Problems Experienced. We combined this information with patient chart abstraction data. RESULTS: Sixty-three percent of females and 38 % of males were scored as positive when screened for mood disorders, as measured by HADS (total score ≥ 16), and 17 and 5 % for emotional distress as measured by IES (total score ≥ 50). High scores in FSQ-satisfaction with family relationships and FSQ-need for more information about cancer, and low scores in FSQ-thoughts about death are reported. FSQ-emotional burden and FSQ-problems in social involvement are the areas more compromised in females, compared to males. Females, compared to males, use emotional-oriented coping strategies more frequently. Factors independently associated with mood disorders included emotional burden, problems in social involvement, and non-attendance of meeting places; help and assistance from public local services (for patients) decreased the risk of mood disorders in caregivers. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of mood disorders is high in cancerpatients' caregivers. These results highlight the need to develop family intervention strategies to minimize the impact of patient's care on caregivers' mental health.
Authors: Bonnie Teschendorf; Carolyn Schwartz; Carol Estwing Ferrans; Ann O'Mara; Paul Novotny; Jeff Sloan Journal: Cancer Control Date: 2007-04 Impact factor: 3.302
Authors: David Hui; Henrique A Parsons; Shamsha Damani; Stephanie Fulton; Jun Liu; Avery Evans; Maxine De La Cruz; Eduardo Bruera Journal: Oncologist Date: 2011-04-06
Authors: M Keller; S Sommerfeldt; C Fischer; L Knight; M Riesbeck; B Löwe; C Herfarth; T Lehnert Journal: Ann Oncol Date: 2004-08 Impact factor: 32.976