Prospectively Examining the Effects of a Cancer Diagnosis on Patients, Spouses/Partners, and Their Relationship

2021 ◽  
pp. 123-146
Author(s):  
Elaine O. Cheung ◽  
Frank J. Penedo ◽  
Judith T. Moskowitz ◽  
Betina Yanez ◽  
Sheetal M. Kircher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Processing ◽  
Process Approach ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Post Traumatic Growth ◽  
Perceived Change ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Dyadic Process ◽  
Character Growth

Patients and their caregivers commonly report positive psychological change following the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, a phenomenon referred to as perceived growth. However, most studies have examined patient and caregiver growth as separate, parallel processes, without considering their dynamic interplay or the shared interpersonal context. Furthermore, previous research is limited by cross-sectional designs that use retrospective self-report measures to capture perceived change following cancer, rather than prospective designs to capture actual, measured changes in positive traits such as character strengths (i.e., character growth). This chapter discusses the challenges involved in examining post-traumatic growth in cancer patient populations and the advantages of incorporating a dyadic process approach as opposed to solely focusing on individual-level change. A dyadic process approach will permit examination of whether disclosure, support, empathy, and cognitive processing operate as mechanisms of character growth and will discuss the need for longitudinal data to fully examine post-traumatic growth as a dyadic outcome. To further elaborate on this dyadic approach, the authors propose an expanded theoretical model to delineate the intrapersonal and shared dyadic processes that underlie character and couple growth among cancer patients and caregivers.

scholarly journals Effects of expressive writing and use of cognitive words on meaning making and post-traumatic Growth

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Zheng ◽  
Qian Lu ◽  
Yiqun Gan
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Processing ◽  
Expressive Writing ◽  
Cognitive Process ◽  
Meaning Making ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Stress Regulation ◽  
Presence Of Meaning ◽  
Post Traumatic Growth ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Writing Task

AbstractExpressive writing can enhance cognitive processing and improve stress regulation. Particularly, the use of cognitive words (i.e., insightful and causal words) in writing may be associated with the process of meaning making and promotion of post-traumatic growth (PTG). The aim of the present study was to determine how expressive writing and the use of causal and insightful cognitive words influenced meaning making and PTG during writing. In total, 52 traumatized university students were recruited and randomly assigned to one of two writing conditions involving either an expressive writing task or a neutral writing task. The results showed that participants who engaged in expressive (vs. neutral) writing showed higher scores on the presence of meaning and PTG in the post-writing, self-report questionnaires. Moreover, writing task (expressive or neutral) and frequency of causal and insightful cognitive words were both significant predictors of meaning, which in turn led to high levels of PTG. In conclusion, the use of causal and insightful words might be a fundamental cognitive process for developing meaning in writing, which is essential for our further understanding of meaning making and PTG.

MO946THE LEVEL OF POST-TRAUMATIC GROWTH IN KIDNEY TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS WITH LONG TERM DURATION OF GRAFT

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuri Battaglia ◽  
Luigi Zerbinati ◽  
Michele Provenzano ◽  
Pasquale Esposito ◽  
Michele Andreucci ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Kidney Transplant ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Traumatic Event ◽  
Psychological Trauma ◽  
Stress Disorders ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Psychiatric Diagnoses ◽  
Kidney Transplant Recipients ◽  
Post Traumatic Growth ◽  
Post Traumatic

Abstract Background and Aims Kidney transplant (KT)can cause a psychological trauma due to changes in self-perception, in interpersonal relationships, and in the philosophy of life. However, the exposure to this traumatic event might lead to not only stress disorders but also positive growth. Primary aim of study was to evaluate the prevalence of post-traumatic growth (PTG)in KTRs. Secondary aim was to explore any association between PTG and psychiatric, psychosocial and medical variables, specifically psychiatric diagnoses, demoralization, as well as physical and general problems or symptoms. Method KTRs followed up in a single nephrology Unit, were evaluated. Each patient was individually administered MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview 6.0. and DCPR interview to evaluate ICD-10 psychiatric diagnoses and DCPR diagnoses. PTG Inventory (PTGI), ESAS-revised, CPC, and DS-IT were given as self-report instruments to be filled in. PTGI was used to investigate positive psychological experience of patients after KT on a 0 to 5-point Likert scale(0=I did not experience this change as a result of my KT;5=I experienced this change to a very great degree as a result of my KT).It consists of 21 items divided in five factors: New Possibilities(NP),Relating to Others(RO),Personal Strength(PS),Spiritual Change(SC),and Appreciation of Life(AL).ESAS-revised, DS-IT and CPC were used to examine the severity of physical and psychological symptoms on a 0 to 10 scale; to measure the severity of demoralization on a 0 to 4 scale and to evaluate the physical and general problems in a yes/no(0–1)format, respectively. Results Data pertaining to 134 out of 143 consecutive outpatients were collected. Clinical characteristics of sample and ranking order of ICD and DCPR diagnoses are shown in Tab.1.Mean score of PTGI total of sample was 52.02 (±20.69).SC(4.26±2.94)experience was markedly lower than RO(16.26±8.18),NP(11.25±5.56),PS(10.91±5.33)and AL(9.77±3.72).PS changes were higher in KTRs with adaption ICD diagnosis(p<0.001);while no SC change was found in KTRs with an ICD diagnosis of mood disorders(p<0.01).DCPR diagnosis of alexithymia and Irritability were associated with low RO score(13.74±6.51 and 13.97±6.95,respectively)(p <0.05).AL subscale was positively correlated with ESAS anxiety symptom and ESAS psychological distress sub-score(p<0.05); and negatively with DS-lT loss of meaning and purpose subscale(p<0.05).Women(57.2±23.07)had higher scores of PTGI than men (49.5±19.04)(p <0.05).No significant correlation was found between CPC problems, blood chemistry and socio-demographic characteristics, including months after transplant. Conclusion This study shows that KTRs had moderate-to-high levels of PTG which did not change after KT overtime. Also, lower RO score was associated with DCPR diagnosis of alexithymia, highlighting the potential ability of PTGI to identify KTRs who need psychological support. Further multicentre studies should be conducted to investigate the positive psychological changes after KT.

scholarly journals Abusive experiences and psychiatric morbidity in women primary care attenders

2003 ◽  
Vol 183 (4) ◽  
pp. 332-339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy Coid ◽  
Ann Petruckevitch ◽  
Wai-Shan Chung ◽  
Jo Richardson ◽  
Stirling Moorey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Substance Misuse ◽  
Psychiatric Morbidity ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Mental Health Effects

BackgroundAbusive experiences in childhood and adulthood increase risks of psychiatric morbidity in women and independently increase risks of further abuse over the lifetime. It is unclear which experiences are most damaging.AimsTo measure lifetime prevalence of abusive experiences and psychiatric morbidity, and to analyse associations in women primary care attenders.MethodA cross-sectional, self-report survey of 1207 women attending 13 surgeries in the London borough of Hackney, UK. Independent associations between demographic measures, abusive experiences and psychiatric outcome were established using logistic regression.ResultsChildhood sexual abuse had few associations with adult mental health measures, in contrast to physical abuse. Sexual assault in adulthood was associated with substance misuse; rape with anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder but not substance misuse. Domestic violence showed strongest associations with most mental health measures, increased for experiences in the past year.ConclusionsAbuse in childhood and adulthood have differential effects on mental health; effects are increased by recency and severity. Women should be routinely questioned about ongoing and recent experiences as well as childhood.

An Affective-Cognitive Processing Model of Post-Traumatic Growth

2012 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 316-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Joseph ◽  
David Murphy ◽  
Stephen Regel
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Processing ◽  
Post Traumatic Growth ◽  
Post Traumatic

scholarly journals Association between virtues and posttraumatic growth: Preliminary evidence from a Chinese community sample after earthquakes

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenjie Duan ◽  
Pengfei Guo
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Growth ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Positive Development ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Indirect Trauma ◽  
Direct Trauma ◽  
Post Traumatic Growth ◽  
Post Traumatic

Objective: Relationship, vitality, and conscientiousness are three fundamental virtues that have been identified recently, which are important individual differences to health, well being, and positive development. This cross-sectional study attempted to explore the relationship between the three constructs and post-traumatic growth (PTG) in three directions, including indirect trauma samples without post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), direct trauma samples without PTSD, and direct trauma samples with PTSD. Methods: A total of 340 community participants from Sichuan Province, Mainland China involved in the study, most of which experienced Wenchuan and Lushan Earthquake. Participants were required to complete the self-reported questionnaire packages at one time point for obtaining their scores on virtues (Chinese Virtues Questionnaire), PTSD (PTSD Checklist-Specific), and PTG (Post-traumatic Growth Inventory-Chinese). Results: Significant and positive correlations between the three virtues and PTG were identified (r = .39 to .56; p < .01). Further regression analysis by stepwise method reveled that: in the indirect trauma samples, vitality explained 32% variance of PTG. In reference to the direct trauma sample without PTSD, both relationship and conscientiousness explained 32% variance of PTG; whereas in the direct trauma sample with PTSD, only conscientiousness accounted for 31% the variance in PTG. Conclusion: This cross-sectional investigation partly revealed the roles of different virtues in trauma context. Findings suggest important implications for strengths-based treatment.

Pathways from adversity to wisdom

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Dorfman ◽  
Igor Grossmann ◽  
David A Moscovitch
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Folk Beliefs ◽  
Personal Strengths ◽  
Post Traumatic Growth ◽  
Adverse Experiences ◽  
Epistemic Humility ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
The One ◽  
Health And Well Being

Folk beliefs and philosophers have long suggested that mastering adversity contributes to growth in wisdom –adaptability to the situation, perspectivism, dialectical thinking, and epistemic humility. But existing research on outcomes of adversity suggests a puzzle. On the one hand, cross-sectional studies have found adversity leads to post-traumatic growth in personal strengths such as wisdom. On the other hand, focus on adverse experiences exacerbates negative emotions and thoughts and undermines health and well-being over time. Our chapter highlights the idea that outcomes of adversity may depend on one’s mindset when reflecting on the adverse experience. Adopting a self-distanced mindset rather than the habitual self-focused or self-immersed mindset is likely to enhance wise characteristics. We review evidence-based advances in the study of daily adversity and wisdom, specifically focusing on utilizing longitudinal and experimental methodologies, and address future questions and clinical implications of self-distanced mindsets for growth in wisdom.

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