Su-Ching Kuo1, Fur-Hsing Wen2, Jen-Shi Chen3, Wen-Chi Chou3, Wen-Chi Shen3, Siew Tzuh Tang4. 1. Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan; Department of Nursing, Yuanpei University of Medical Technology, Hsinchu, Taiwan. 2. Department of International Business, Soochow University, Taipei, Taiwan. 3. Division of Hematology and Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan. 4. Division of Hematology and Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan; Department of Nursing, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; School of Nursing, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan. Electronic address: sttang@mail.cgu.edu.tw.
Abstract
CONTEXT: Postloss depressive symptom trajectories are heterogeneous and predicted by preloss psychosocial resources, but this evidence was from one old study on caregivers of patients with terminal cancer for whom these issues are highly relevant. OBJECTIVES: To identify depressive symptom trajectories among cancer patients' bereaved caregivers and examine if they are predicted by preloss psychosocial resources while considering caregiving burden. METHODS: Preloss psychosocial resources (sense of coherence and social support) were measured among 282 caregivers. Depressive symptoms were measured by the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale at one, three, six, 13, 18, and 24 months after loss (Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scores ≥16 indicate severe depressive symptoms). Distinct depressive symptom trajectories and their predictors were identified by latent-class growth analysis. RESULTS: We identified five depressive symptom trajectories (prevalence): endurance (47.2%), resilience (16.7%), transient reaction (20.2%), prolonged symptomatic (11.7%), and chronically distressed (4.2%). Over two years after loss, the endurance group never experienced severe depressive symptoms. Severe depressive symptoms lasted six, seven to 12, and 18 months for the resilience, transient-reaction, and prolonged-symptomatic groups, respectively. The chronically distressed group's severe depressive symptoms persisted. The endurance and chronically distressed groups had the best and weakest psychological resources, respectively. Endurance-group caregivers perceived the greatest social support, whereas the resilience and transient-reaction groups had higher social support than the prolonged-symptomatic group. CONCLUSIONS: Most (84.1%) caregivers' depressive symptoms subsided within one year after loss. Preloss psychosocial resources predicted depressive symptom trajectories for bereaved caregivers. Health care professionals can help caregivers adjust their bereavement by providing support to enhance their sense of coherence and encouraging social contacts while they are providing end-of-life care.
CONTEXT: Postloss depressive symptom trajectories are heterogeneous and predicted by preloss psychosocial resources, but this evidence was from one old study on caregivers of patients with terminal cancer for whom these issues are highly relevant. OBJECTIVES: To identify depressive symptom trajectories among cancerpatients' bereaved caregivers and examine if they are predicted by preloss psychosocial resources while considering caregiving burden. METHODS:Preloss psychosocial resources (sense of coherence and social support) were measured among 282 caregivers. Depressive symptoms were measured by the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale at one, three, six, 13, 18, and 24 months after loss (Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scores ≥16 indicate severe depressive symptoms). Distinct depressive symptom trajectories and their predictors were identified by latent-class growth analysis. RESULTS: We identified five depressive symptom trajectories (prevalence): endurance (47.2%), resilience (16.7%), transient reaction (20.2%), prolonged symptomatic (11.7%), and chronically distressed (4.2%). Over two years after loss, the endurance group never experienced severe depressive symptoms. Severe depressive symptoms lasted six, seven to 12, and 18 months for the resilience, transient-reaction, and prolonged-symptomatic groups, respectively. The chronically distressed group's severe depressive symptoms persisted. The endurance and chronically distressed groups had the best and weakest psychological resources, respectively. Endurance-group caregivers perceived the greatest social support, whereas the resilience and transient-reaction groups had higher social support than the prolonged-symptomatic group. CONCLUSIONS: Most (84.1%) caregivers' depressive symptoms subsided within one year after loss. Preloss psychosocial resources predicted depressive symptom trajectories for bereaved caregivers. Health care professionals can help caregivers adjust their bereavement by providing support to enhance their sense of coherence and encouraging social contacts while they are providing end-of-life care.