Qi Chen1, Lauren Terhorst2, David A Geller1, Wallis Marsh1, Michael Antoni3, Mary Amanda Dew4, Michelle Biala5, Josh Weinstein6, Allan Tsung1, Jennifer Steel7. 1. Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. 2. Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. 3. Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA. 4. Departments of Psychiatry, Psychology, Epidemiology, and Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. 5. Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. 6. Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. 7. Departments of Surgery, Psychiatry, and Psychology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The objective of the study is to investigate trajectories of stress and depressive symptoms of spousal and intimate partner caregivers in the context of cancer. We also examined the patient-related predictors of caregiver stress and depression. DESIGN: This is a longitudinal cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: Patients diagnosed with cancers affecting the hepatobiliary and pancreatic system and their spousal or intimate partner caregivers were recruited at a large tertiary cancer center. METHODS: The patients and caregivers were assessed for their level of stress, depressive symptoms, relationship quality, and quality of life at the time of the patients' diagnosis, every 2 months for 12 months and then at 18 months. FINDINGS: One hundred and seventy-nine caregivers were included in the trajectory analyses. Amongst the 179 caregivers, 120 patient and caregiver dyads had complete data at baseline to 6-months. The majority of the spousal caregivers were female (84%) and the mean age was 57 years. 25% of caregivers reported high levels of chronic depressive symptoms. However, significant reductions were observed at 6 months. High and moderate levels of caregiver stress were also reported in 21% and 36% of caregivers, respectively. The caregivers who reported moderate levels of stress had a decrease in stress over time while those in the high stress group reported stable levels of stress over time. Caregivers' stress is predicted by the cancer patients' depressive symptoms but not patients' quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Caregivers who reported high levels of stress and depressive symptoms at patients' cancer diagnosis remain high even after the initial adjustment. A bidirectional relationship between the caregivers' stress and the patients' depressive symptoms was observed. IMPLICATIONS: The development of dyadic interventions focusing on the patients' and caregivers' distress is warranted to decrease psychological morbidities of the dyad.
PURPOSE: The objective of the study is to investigate trajectories of stress and depressive symptoms of spousal and intimate partner caregivers in the context of cancer. We also examined the patient-related predictors of caregiver stress and depression. DESIGN: This is a longitudinal cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: Patients diagnosed with cancers affecting the hepatobiliary and pancreatic system and their spousal or intimate partner caregivers were recruited at a large tertiary cancer center. METHODS: The patients and caregivers were assessed for their level of stress, depressive symptoms, relationship quality, and quality of life at the time of the patients' diagnosis, every 2 months for 12 months and then at 18 months. FINDINGS: One hundred and seventy-nine caregivers were included in the trajectory analyses. Amongst the 179 caregivers, 120 patient and caregiver dyads had complete data at baseline to 6-months. The majority of the spousal caregivers were female (84%) and the mean age was 57 years. 25% of caregivers reported high levels of chronic depressive symptoms. However, significant reductions were observed at 6 months. High and moderate levels of caregiver stress were also reported in 21% and 36% of caregivers, respectively. The caregivers who reported moderate levels of stress had a decrease in stress over time while those in the high stress group reported stable levels of stress over time. Caregivers' stress is predicted by the cancerpatients' depressive symptoms but not patients' quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Caregivers who reported high levels of stress and depressive symptoms at patients' cancer diagnosis remain high even after the initial adjustment. A bidirectional relationship between the caregivers' stress and the patients' depressive symptoms was observed. IMPLICATIONS: The development of dyadic interventions focusing on the patients' and caregivers' distress is warranted to decrease psychological morbidities of the dyad.
Entities:
Keywords:
cancer caregiver; depression; dyadic functioning; quality of life; stress
Authors: Eva Grunfeld; Doug Coyle; Timothy Whelan; Jennifer Clinch; Leonard Reyno; Craig C Earle; Andrew Willan; Raymond Viola; Marjorie Coristine; Teresa Janz; Robert Glossop Journal: CMAJ Date: 2004-06-08 Impact factor: 8.262
Authors: Kimberly D Miller; Rebecca L Siegel; Chun Chieh Lin; Angela B Mariotto; Joan L Kramer; Julia H Rowland; Kevin D Stein; Rick Alteri; Ahmedin Jemal Journal: CA Cancer J Clin Date: 2016-06-02 Impact factor: 508.702
Authors: Annika von Heymann-Horan; Pernille Bidstrup; Mai-Britt Guldin; Per Sjøgren; Elisabeth Anne Wreford Andersen; Hans von der Maase; Jakob Kjellberg; Helle Timm; Christoffer Johansen Journal: Br J Cancer Date: 2018-11-14 Impact factor: 7.640