Predictors of Referral for Specialized Psychosocial Oncology Care in Patients With Metastatic Cancer: The Contributions of Age, Distress, and Marital Status

2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 699-705 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet Ellis ◽  
Judy Lin ◽  
Andrew Walsh ◽  
Christopher Lo ◽  
Frances A. Shepherd ◽  
...  

Purpose This study examines the rate and prediction of referral for specialized psychosocial oncology care in 326 patients with metastatic GI or lung cancer. Patients and Methods Referral information was abstracted from medical records and hospital databases. Patients completed measures of psychosocial and physical distress and functioning. Results Routine referral occurred in 33% of patients, and in 42% and 44%, respectively, of those scoring high on measures of depression (Beck Depression Inventory [BDI]-II ≥ 15) and hopelessness (Beck Hopelessness Scale ≥ 8). Univariate analyses indicated that referral was associated with younger age, unmarried status, living alone, presence of more depressive symptoms, hopelessness, and attachment anxiety, and with less social support, self-esteem, and spiritual well-being (all P < .05). Among the significantly depressed (BDI-II ≥ 15), 100% of those less than 40 years of age, but only 22% of those age 70 years or older were referred. Multivariate analyses indicated that referral was associated with younger age, unmarried status, and presence of more depressive symptoms. Moreover, increasing age was associated with a progressively lower likelihood of referral independent of the level of distress. Conclusion Routine referral of patients with metastatic cancer for psychosocial oncology care was predicted by presence of more severe depressive symptoms, younger age, and unmarried status. The rate of referral progressively declined with each decade of age, even among those with significant distress. These findings are consistent with some aspects of Andersen's model of health care utilization. The extent to which referred patients represent those who are most likely to benefit deserves further investigation.

2010 ◽  
Vol 28 (18) ◽  
pp. 3084-3089 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Lo ◽  
Camilla Zimmermann ◽  
Anne Rydall ◽  
Andrew Walsh ◽  
Jennifer M. Jones ◽  
...  

Purpose Although early intervention is increasingly advocated to prevent and relieve distress in patients with metastatic cancer, the risk factors for such symptoms and their trajectory are not well established. We therefore conducted a longitudinal study to determine the course and predictors of depressive symptoms. Patients and Methods Patients (N = 365) with metastatic gastrointestinal or lung cancer completed measures of physical distress, self-esteem, attachment security, spiritual well-being, social support, hopelessness, and depression at baseline; physical distress, social support, hopelessness, and depression were subsequently assessed at 2-month intervals. Results Of the sample, 35% reported at least mild depressive symptoms, with 16% reporting moderate to severe depressive symptoms that persisted in at least one third of such individuals. Moderate to severe depressive symptoms were almost three times more common in the final 3 months of life than ≥ 1 year before death. Predictors of depressive symptoms included younger age, antidepressant use at baseline, lower self-esteem and spiritual well-being, and greater attachment anxiety, hopelessness, physical burden of illness, and proximity to death. The combination of greater physical suffering and psychosocial vulnerability put individuals at greatest risk for depression. Conclusion Depressive symptoms in advanced cancer patients are relatively common and may arise as a final common pathway of distress in response to psychosocial vulnerabilities, physical suffering, and proximity to death. These findings support the need for an integrated approach to address emotional and physical distress in this population and to determine whether early intervention may prevent depression at the end of life.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamid Sharif Nia ◽  
Ozkan Gorgulu ◽  
Navaz Naghavi ◽  
María Auxiliadora Robles-Bello ◽  
David Sánchez-Teruel ◽  
...  

This study investigates the relationship between spiritual well-being, social support, and financial distress with depressive symptoms due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A path analysis was used to analyze data collected from 1,156 Iranian participants via an online survey. The results showed that spiritual well-being and social support were negatively related to depressive symptoms and financial distress. The impact of COVID-19 events showed negative associations with depressive symptoms. In addition, the link between spiritual well-being and financial distress with depressive symptoms was partially mediated by the impact of events.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-65
Author(s):  
Dawn Thurman

The present study seeks to explore the correlations of depressive symptoms among African American youth. The sample included 118 African American preadolescents (age range: 9–12, M = 10.54; SD = 1.02) living in an urban environment. The sample was primarily female (64.4%, n = 76) and in the 4th grade (43.2%, n = 51). Depressive symptoms were negatively associated with spiritual well-being, self-esteem and positively associated with exposure to violence and bullying. This study identified correlations as well as predictors of depressive symptoms. The predictors include spiritual well-being, bullying, exposure to violence, and self-esteem. These findings documented individual and social level psychosocial factors as an important determinant of depressive symptoms. Furthermore, these findings provided needed empirical evidence documenting factors that affect depressive symptoms among African American children.


2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (18_suppl) ◽  
pp. 9131-9131
Author(s):  
J. Domont ◽  
K. Fizazi ◽  
F. Zesnasni ◽  
A. Plantade ◽  
C. Massard ◽  
...  

9131 Background: The purpose of this study was to identify predictive factors of depression in patients with metastases from prostate cancer. Methods: Patients with evidence of metastases from prostate cancer were prospectively screened for depression. Depressive symptoms were defined by the Beck Depression Inventory-Short Form (BDI-SF) with a low cut-off score of 4 to optimize sensitivity as a screening test (Lowe AW, 2004). Self-report questionnaires including BDI-SF were sent to pts through the mail and then given back to the oncologist. In case of a BDI-SF > 4, a consultation with a psychiatrist was proposed, so that the diagnosis of depression could be made and treatment be started. Characteristics including marital status, spiritual well-being, educational level, ongoing treatment for prostate cancer, and the presence of pain requiring analgesic therapy were registered. Results: 92 patients were prospectively enrolled of whom 54 (60%) completed the self-report questionnaires. Median age was 69 years (range: 50–84). 31 pts (54%) had castration-refractory disease, of whom 30 were receiving chemotherapy: docetaxel (n=22), carboplatin-etoposide (n=6) and doxorubicin (n=2). Eighteen patients (33%) had a BDI-SF score > 4, of whom 10 (18%) had a major depressive disorder (MDD) according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV (DSM-IV) criteria. Logistic regression analysis showed that pain requiring analgesic therapy was the only predictive factor of depressive symptoms (OR=3.75; 95% confidence interval 1.1–12.4). In patients with pain requiring treatment, the incidence of depressive symptoms and MDD was 53% and 32%, respectively. In contrast to female with advanced breast cancer (Conforti R, 2004), marital status and belief in god were not predictive factors of depressive symptoms in this population of males. Conclusions: Pain requiring analgesic treatment was the only factor significantly associated with depressive symptoms in this sample of 54 patients with metastatic prostate cancer. A screening for depression should be systematically implemented at least in this subgroup of patients. No significant financial relationships to disclose.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mercy Githara ◽  
Anne Obondo ◽  
Albert Tele ◽  
Graham Thornicroft ◽  
Manasi Kumar

Abstract Background Parents of children with intellectual disabilities may develop depressive symptoms and are prone to stigmatization due to stressful challenges encountered when providing care for their children. The study objective was to determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms and stigmatization among parents of children with intellectual disabilities. Method A cross-sectional descriptive study design was used to sample 121 parents of children with intellectual disabilities in four public primary special schools in Nairobi, Kenya Data were collected using a researcher designed socio-demographic questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) to screen depressive symptoms and the DISC-12 used to determine stigmatization among parents of children with intellectual disabilities. Descriptive statistics were used to examine the depression scores, discrimination and stigma scores. Independent samples t-test, and one-way analyses of variance (ANOVA) were used to identify group differences at the bivariate level. Generalized linear models were used to identify independent predictors of discrimination and Stigma. Results Of the 121 parents assessed for depression 24% (n=29) of parents met the criterion for being at risk of depression using BDI scores (score of 21 and above). Stigma and discrimination were significantly related to parent’s depressive symptoms, independently of other variables. On multivariate linear regression individual predictors showed that being female (P=<0.001), younger age of between 18-26 (P=<0.003), being divorced/ separated (p=<0.0001), lower education (P=<0.0001) and caregiver burden (P=0.033) were predictors of depression and high levels of stigmatization. Conclusions The risk of depression is high among parents of children with intellectual disabilities. Results of this study suggest that interventions could be developed that have a focus on the health or well- being of parents. Reduction of societal stigma could reduce psychological distress to parents.


2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Fischer ◽  
Marissa N. Petersen-Coleman ◽  
Carla S. Moore ◽  
Dorian A. Lamis

2009 ◽  
Vol 49 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 119-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Safiya George Dalmida ◽  
Marcia McDonnell Holstad ◽  
Colleen Diiorio ◽  
Gary Laderman

2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 2393-2400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Gonzalez ◽  
Sheila F. Castañeda ◽  
Jennifer Dale ◽  
Elizabeth A. Medeiros ◽  
Christina Buelna ◽  
...  

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