A Mehnert1, T J Hartung1, M Friedrich1, S Vehling2, E Brähler1,3, M Härter2, M Keller4, H Schulz2, K Wegscheider5, J Weis6, U Koch2,7, H Faller8. 1. Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany. 2. Department and Outpatient Clinic of Medical Psychology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. 3. Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Universal Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany. 4. Division of Psychooncology, Department for Psychosomatic and General Clinical Medicine, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. 5. Department of Medical Biometry and Epidemiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. 6. Department of Psychooncology, UKF Reha gGmbh University Clinic Center Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany. 7. Deanery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. 8. Department of Medical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Medical Sociology and Rehabilitation Sciences, and Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Psychological distress is common in cancer patients, and awareness of its indicators is essential. We aimed to assess the prevalence of psychological distress and to identify problems indicative of high distress. METHODS: We used the distress thermometer (DT) and its 34-item problem list to measure psychological distress in 3724 cancer patients (mean age 58 years; 57% women) across major tumor entities, enrolled in an epidemiological multicenter study. To identify distress-related problems, we conducted monothetic analyses. RESULTS: We found high levels of psychological distress (DT ≥ 5) in 52% of patients. The most prevalent problems were fatigue (56%), sleep problems (51%), and problems getting around (47%). Sadness, fatigue, and sleep problems were most strongly associated with the presence of other problems. High distress was present in 81.4% of patients reporting all 3 of these problems (DT M = 6.4). When analyzing only the subset of physical problems, fatigue, problems getting around, and indigestion showed the strongest association with the remaining problems and 76.3% of patients with all 3 problems were highly distressed (DT M = 6.1). CONCLUSIONS: Our results show a high prevalence of psychological distress in cancer patients, as well as a set of problems that indicate the likely presence of other problems and high distress and can help clinicians identify distressed patients even if no routine distress screening is available.
OBJECTIVE: Psychological distress is common in cancerpatients, and awareness of its indicators is essential. We aimed to assess the prevalence of psychological distress and to identify problems indicative of high distress. METHODS: We used the distress thermometer (DT) and its 34-item problem list to measure psychological distress in 3724 cancerpatients (mean age 58 years; 57% women) across major tumor entities, enrolled in an epidemiological multicenter study. To identify distress-related problems, we conducted monothetic analyses. RESULTS: We found high levels of psychological distress (DT ≥ 5) in 52% of patients. The most prevalent problems were fatigue (56%), sleep problems (51%), and problems getting around (47%). Sadness, fatigue, and sleep problems were most strongly associated with the presence of other problems. High distress was present in 81.4% of patients reporting all 3 of these problems (DT M = 6.4). When analyzing only the subset of physical problems, fatigue, problems getting around, and indigestion showed the strongest association with the remaining problems and 76.3% of patients with all 3 problems were highly distressed (DT M = 6.1). CONCLUSIONS: Our results show a high prevalence of psychological distress in cancerpatients, as well as a set of problems that indicate the likely presence of other problems and high distress and can help clinicians identify distressed patients even if no routine distress screening is available.
Authors: Stephen J Lepore; Maria A Rincon; Joanne S Buzaglo; Mitch Golant; Morton A Lieberman; Sarah Bauerle Bass; Suzanne Chambers Journal: Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) Date: 2019-07 Impact factor: 2.520
Authors: Emily Hallgren; Theresa A Hastert; Leslie R Carnahan; Jan M Eberth; Scherezade K Mama; Karriem S Watson; Yamilé Molina Journal: J Health Soc Behav Date: 2020-02-01
Authors: Michelle B Riba; Kristine A Donovan; Barbara Andersen; IIana Braun; William S Breitbart; Benjamin W Brewer; Luke O Buchmann; Matthew M Clark; Molly Collins; Cheyenne Corbett; Stewart Fleishman; Sofia Garcia; Donna B Greenberg; Rev George F Handzo; Laura Hoofring; Chao-Hui Huang; Robin Lally; Sara Martin; Lisa McGuffey; William Mitchell; Laura J Morrison; Megan Pailler; Oxana Palesh; Francine Parnes; Janice P Pazar; Laurel Ralston; Jaroslava Salman; Moreen M Shannon-Dudley; Alan D Valentine; Nicole R McMillian; Susan D Darlow Journal: J Natl Compr Canc Netw Date: 2019-10-01 Impact factor: 11.908
Authors: Patricia I Jewett; Deanna Teoh; Sue Petzel; Heewon Lee; Audrey Messelt; Jeffrey Kendall; Dorothy Hatsukami; Susan A Everson-Rose; Anne H Blaes; Rachel I Vogel Journal: JCO Oncol Pract Date: 2020-02-24