Sonja Stieb1, Sabine Fischbeck2, Wolfgang Wagner3, Julia Appels4, Dorothee Wiewrodt5. 1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital and University of Bern, Switzerland. Electronic address: sonja.stieb@insel.ch. 2. Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany. Electronic address: fischbec@uni-mainz.de. 3. Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Mainz, Germany. Electronic address: wolfgang.wagner2@unimedizin-mainz.de. 4. Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Muenster, Germany. Electronic address: julia.appels@ukmuenster.de. 5. Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Muenster, Germany. Electronic address: dorothee.wiewrodt@ukmuenster.de.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Not only tumor patients suffer enormously from their disease, also the caregivers are massively affected by the disease of their relatives. In this study, we investigate the psychological burden in caregivers of outpatient malignant brain tumor patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty caregivers of patients with primary malignant brain tumors were included in our study. Study participants filled in a form with demographic details, a self-established questionnaire concerning general well-being and three established psychological questionnaires to assess anxiety, depression, stress and social support: The "Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale" (HADS), the "Perceived Stress Scale" (PSS-10) and the "Social Support Questionnaire" (F-SozU). RESULTS: Caregivers of patients with primary malignant brain tumors showed in the HADS clinically relevant anxiety in 49% and depression in 20% of the cases. The stress level of the caregivers was increased (mean: 18 points) compared to the general population mean: 13 points), although they felt well supported by their social environment (mean: 4.25 points; general population 3.99 points). There was a significant positive correlation between anxiety and depression (p < 0.001). Female caregivers suffered significantly more from anxiety (p = 0.017) and stress (p = 0.012) than their male counterparts. No correlation was found between tumor grade, age of relatives and patients or the state of living together with the patient and anxiety or depression. CONCLUSIONS: Although the caregivers felt well supported by their social environment, stress, anxiety and depression are common phenomena in caregivers of patients with malignant brain tumors. Especially female ones have an increased risk for developing these comorbidities.
OBJECTIVE: Not only tumorpatients suffer enormously from their disease, also the caregivers are massively affected by the disease of their relatives. In this study, we investigate the psychological burden in caregivers of outpatientmalignant brain tumorpatients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty caregivers of patients with primary malignant brain tumors were included in our study. Study participants filled in a form with demographic details, a self-established questionnaire concerning general well-being and three established psychological questionnaires to assess anxiety, depression, stress and social support: The "Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale" (HADS), the "Perceived Stress Scale" (PSS-10) and the "Social Support Questionnaire" (F-SozU). RESULTS: Caregivers of patients with primary malignant brain tumors showed in the HADS clinically relevant anxiety in 49% and depression in 20% of the cases. The stress level of the caregivers was increased (mean: 18 points) compared to the general population mean: 13 points), although they felt well supported by their social environment (mean: 4.25 points; general population 3.99 points). There was a significant positive correlation between anxiety and depression (p < 0.001). Female caregivers suffered significantly more from anxiety (p = 0.017) and stress (p = 0.012) than their male counterparts. No correlation was found between tumor grade, age of relatives and patients or the state of living together with the patient and anxiety or depression. CONCLUSIONS: Although the caregivers felt well supported by their social environment, stress, anxiety and depression are common phenomena in caregivers of patients with malignant brain tumors. Especially female ones have an increased risk for developing these comorbidities.
Authors: Fabian M Troschel; Christian Ramroth; Lars Lemcke; Jens Clasing; Amelie S Troschel; Martin Dugas; Walter Stummer; Rainer Wiewrodt; Ralf Brandt; Dorothee Wiewrodt Journal: J Clin Med Date: 2020-04-02 Impact factor: 4.241