Hermann Faller1, Joachim Weis2, Uwe Koch3, Elmar Brähler4,5, Martin Härter3, Monika Keller6, Holger Schulz3, Karl Wegscheider7, Anna Boehncke2, Bianca Hund8,9, Katrin Reuter9, Matthias Richard1, Susanne Sehner7, Hans-Ulrich Wittchen10, Anja Mehnert4. 1. Department of Medical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Medical Sociology and Rehabilitation Sciences, and Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany. 2. Department of Psychooncology, Tumor Biology Center, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany. 3. Department and Outpatient Clinic of Medical Psychology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. 4. Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany. 5. Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany. 6. Division of Psychooncology, Department for Psychosomatic and General Clinical Medicine, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. 7. Department of Medical Biometry and Epidemiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. 8. Rhein-Jura-Klinik, Bad Säckingen, Germany. 9. Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany. 10. Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy and Center of Clinical Epidemiology and Longitudinal Studies (CELOS), Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Although one-third of cancer patients are perceived to have a need for psychological support based on the percentage of mental disorders, little is known about the actual utilization of psychological care in cancer. We aimed to assess cancer patients' reported use of psychological care and its correlates in a large, representative sample. METHODS: In a multicenter, cross-sectional study in Germany, 4020 cancer patients (mean age 58 years, 51% women) were evaluated. We obtained self-reports of use of psychotherapy and psychological counseling. We measured distress with the Distress Thermometer, symptoms of depression with the Patient Health Questionnaire, anxiety with the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, and social support with the Illness-specific Social Support Scale. In a subsample of 2141, we evaluated the presence of a mental disorder using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. RESULTS: In total, 28.9% (95% confidence interval 27.4%-30.4%) reported having used psychotherapy or psychological counseling or both because of distress due to cancer. Independent correlates of utilization included age (odds ratio [OR] = 0.97 per year], sex (male, OR = 0.55), social support (OR = 0.96), symptoms of depression (OR = 1.04) and anxiety (OR = 1.08), the diagnosis of a mental disorder (OR = 1.68), and a positive attitude toward psychosocial support (OR = 1.27). Less than half of those currently diagnosed with a mental disorder reported having taken up psychological support offers. CONCLUSION: Special efforts should be made to reach populations that report low utilization of psychological care in spite of having a need for support.
OBJECTIVE: Although one-third of cancerpatients are perceived to have a need for psychological support based on the percentage of mental disorders, little is known about the actual utilization of psychological care in cancer. We aimed to assess cancerpatients' reported use of psychological care and its correlates in a large, representative sample. METHODS: In a multicenter, cross-sectional study in Germany, 4020 cancerpatients (mean age 58 years, 51% women) were evaluated. We obtained self-reports of use of psychotherapy and psychological counseling. We measured distress with the Distress Thermometer, symptoms of depression with the Patient Health Questionnaire, anxiety with the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, and social support with the Illness-specific Social Support Scale. In a subsample of 2141, we evaluated the presence of a mental disorder using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. RESULTS: In total, 28.9% (95% confidence interval 27.4%-30.4%) reported having used psychotherapy or psychological counseling or both because of distress due to cancer. Independent correlates of utilization included age (odds ratio [OR] = 0.97 per year], sex (male, OR = 0.55), social support (OR = 0.96), symptoms of depression (OR = 1.04) and anxiety (OR = 1.08), the diagnosis of a mental disorder (OR = 1.68), and a positive attitude toward psychosocial support (OR = 1.27). Less than half of those currently diagnosed with a mental disorder reported having taken up psychological support offers. CONCLUSION: Special efforts should be made to reach populations that report low utilization of psychological care in spite of having a need for support.
Authors: Anouk S Schuit; Karen Holtmaat; Valesca van Zwieten; Eline J Aukema; Lotte Gransier; Pim Cuijpers; Irma M Verdonck-de Leeuw Journal: Front Psychol Date: 2021-04-22
Authors: Johanna Ringwald; Lennart Marwedel; Florian Junne; Katrin Ziser; Norbert Schäffeler; Lena Gerstner; Markus Wallwiener; Sara Yvonne Brucker; Martin Hautzinger; Stephan Zipfel; Martin Teufel Journal: JMIR Cancer Date: 2017-11-24
Authors: Florie E Van Beek; Lonneke M A Wijnhoven; Karen Holtmaat; José A E Custers; Judith B Prins; Irma M Verdonck-de Leeuw; Femke Jansen Journal: Psychooncology Date: 2021-07-06 Impact factor: 3.955