Xiao Zhou1, Mengqi Gao2, Wenchao Wang2, Xinchun Wu3. 1. Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310028, China. 2. Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China. 3. Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China. Electronic address: xcwu@bnu.edu.cn.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: It has been documented that posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms (PTSS) in traumatized individuals have naturally heterogeneous characteristics; studies have recently begun to assess the specific heterogeneous patterns of PTSS. However, most of them used the DSM-IV criteria for PTSS and focused on victims following combat, interpersonal violence, and natural disasters, with no studies focusing on cancer patients. To extend the existing literature and fill the gaps in previous studies, this study aims to examine the specific patterns of PTSS and their predictors. METHOD: One hundred and ninety-one cancer patients were selected to complete self-reported questionnaires; the data analysis involved latent profile analysis and multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: Three patterns of PTSS were found: the non-symptom group (n = 29, 15.3%), the hyperarousal symptoms group (n = 84, 44.2%), and the severe PTSS group (n = 77, 40.5%). In addition, a longer elapsed time since diagnosis was related to fewer hyperarousal symptoms [OR (95%CI) = 0.98 (0.95-1.00)] and severe PTSS [OR (95%CI) = 0.98 (0.95-1.00)]; a greater fear of cancer recurrence was related to more hyperarousal symptoms [OR (95%CI) = 1.09 (1.00-1.19)] and severe PTSS [OR (95%CI) = 1.32 (1.18-1.47)]; and individuals with higher household incomes [OR (95%CI) = 1.65 (0.96-2.84)] and female patients [OR (95%CI) = 0.37 (0.16-0.87)] had more severe PTSS. CONCLUSIONS: Cancer patients exhibited heterogeneous PTSS patterns.
OBJECTIVE: It has been documented that posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms (PTSS) in traumatized individuals have naturally heterogeneous characteristics; studies have recently begun to assess the specific heterogeneous patterns of PTSS. However, most of them used the DSM-IV criteria for PTSS and focused on victims following combat, interpersonal violence, and natural disasters, with no studies focusing on cancerpatients. To extend the existing literature and fill the gaps in previous studies, this study aims to examine the specific patterns of PTSS and their predictors. METHOD: One hundred and ninety-one cancerpatients were selected to complete self-reported questionnaires; the data analysis involved latent profile analysis and multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: Three patterns of PTSS were found: the non-symptom group (n = 29, 15.3%), the hyperarousal symptoms group (n = 84, 44.2%), and the severe PTSS group (n = 77, 40.5%). In addition, a longer elapsed time since diagnosis was related to fewer hyperarousal symptoms [OR (95%CI) = 0.98 (0.95-1.00)] and severe PTSS [OR (95%CI) = 0.98 (0.95-1.00)]; a greater fear of cancer recurrence was related to more hyperarousal symptoms [OR (95%CI) = 1.09 (1.00-1.19)] and severe PTSS [OR (95%CI) = 1.32 (1.18-1.47)]; and individuals with higher household incomes [OR (95%CI) = 1.65 (0.96-2.84)] and female patients [OR (95%CI) = 0.37 (0.16-0.87)] had more severe PTSS. CONCLUSIONS:Cancerpatients exhibited heterogeneous PTSS patterns.