PTSD and lymphoma: Two very different psychological trajectories following a common diagnosis.

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (5_suppl) ◽  
pp. 195-195
Author(s):  
Regina Jacob ◽  
Laura Robbins ◽  
John Leonard ◽  
Janey C Peterson

195 Background: Long-term chronic lymphoma survivors report lower quality of life compared to those who are cured of lymphoma, despite an equal prevalence of PTSD symptoms in both groups. Posttraumatic Growth (PTG), or positive psychological change following a traumatic event, has been associated with greater acceptance of the disease and greater quality of life, particularly because PTG has been shown to diminish the negative effects of PTSD symptoms. Methods: Semi-structured, in-person qualitative interviews were conducted among a convenience sample of lymphoma survivors. Participants answered questions about their emotional reactions after diagnosis, during treatment, and symptoms of PTSD and positive changes—if any—that developed during the cancer experience. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed using Grounded Theory methodology. Results: 77 lymphoma survivors - 75% chronic lymphoma, 25% curable lymphoma completed interviews. Themes included 1) disease: perception of health; 2) support system: physician support, social support, and healthcare system support; 3) internal processing: acquiring knowledge, and coping mechanisms; 4) fear: stigma of cancer; 5) growth: relationship with others, and appreciation of life; and 5) acceptance: preparation, and death & dying. Most participants, regardless of chronic or curable diagnoses, reported distress during diagnosis and treatment within the categories: perception of health, healthcare system support, social support, and acquiring knowledge. Chronic lymphoma participants reported less fear and subsequently less growth than their curable counterparts. Participants further viewed their cancer as carrying a different stigma, which then resulted in these blunted reactions. Conclusions: Chronic lymphoma patients do not follow the same psychological trajectory as their curable counterparts with regards to long-term adjustment. They, instead, emulate patients with other chronic disease. The blunted psychological experience of both PTSD symptoms and PTG could potentially explain the lower reports of quality of life in the long term cancer survivor with indolent disease.

2021 ◽  
pp. 089011712110129
Author(s):  
Erica G. Soltero ◽  
Stephanie L. Ayers ◽  
Marvyn A. Avalos ◽  
Armando Peña ◽  
Allison N. Williams ◽  
...  

Purpose: This study tested self-efficacy and social support for activity and dietary changes as mediators of changes in type 2 diabetes related outcomes following a lifestyle intervention among Latino youth. Setting and Intervention: Latino adolescents (14-16 years) with obesity (BMI% = 98.1 ± 1.4) were randomized to a 3-month intervention (n = 67) that fostered self-efficacy and social support through weekly, family-centered sessions or a comparison condition (n = 69). Measures: Primary outcomes included insulin sensitivity and weight specific quality of life. Mediators included self-efficacy, friend, and family social support for health behaviors. Data was collected at baseline, 3-months, 6-months, and 12-months. Analysis: Sequential path analysis was used to examine mediators as mechanisms by which the intervention influenced primary outcomes. Results: The intervention had a direct effect on family (β = 0.33, P < .01) and friend social support (β = 0.22, P < .001) immediately following the intervention (3-months). Increased family social support mediated the intervention’s effect on self-efficacy at 6-months (β = 0.09, P < .01). However, social support and self-efficacy did not mediate long-term changes in primary outcomes ( P > .05) at 12-months. Conclusions: Family social support may improve self-efficacy for health behaviors in high-risk Latino youth, highlighting the important role of family diabetes prevention. Fostering family social support is a critical intervention target and more research is needed to understand family-level factors that have the potential to lead to long-term metabolic and psychosocial outcome in vulnerable youth.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Barbara Muzzatti ◽  
Nicoletta Cattaruzza ◽  
Marika Piccinin ◽  
Cristiana Flaiban ◽  
Giulia Agostinelli ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 849-861
Author(s):  
Darina V. Petrovsky ◽  
Karen B. Hirschman ◽  
Miranda Varrasse McPhillips ◽  
Justine S. Sefcik ◽  
Alexandra L. Hanlon ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTObjectives:Daytime sleepiness is associated with multiple negative outcomes in older adults receiving long-term services and supports (LTSS) including reduced cognitive performance, need for greater assistance with activities of daily living and decreased social engagement. The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of change in subjective daytime sleepiness among older adults during their first 2 years of receiving LTSS.Design and Setting:Secondary analysis of data from a prospective longitudinal study of older adults who received LTSS in their homes, assisted living communities or nursing homes interviewed at baseline and every 3 months for 24 months.Participants:470 older adults (60 years and older) newly enrolled in LTSS (mean = 81, SD = 8.7; range 60–98; 71% women).Measurements:Subjective daytime sleepiness was assessed every 3 months through 2 years using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Multiple validated measures were used to capture health-related quality of life characteristics of enrollees and their environment, including symptom status (Symptom Bother Scale), cognition (Mini Mental Status Exam), physical function (Basic Activities of Daily Living), physical and mental general health, quality of life (Dementia Quality of Life, D-QoL), depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale) and social support (Medical Outcomes Survey-Social Support).Results:Longitudinal mixed effects modeling was used to examine the relationship between independent variables and continuous measure of daytime sleepiness. Increased feelings of belonging, subscale of the D-QoL (effect size = −0.006, 95% CI: −0.013 to −0.0001, p = 0.045) and higher number of depressive symptoms (effect size = −0.002, 95% CI: −0.004 to −0.001, p = 0.001) at baseline were associated with slower rates of increase in daytime sleepiness over time.Conclusions:Comprehensive baseline and longitudinal screening for changes in daytime sleepiness along with depression and perceived quality of life should be used to inform interventions aimed at reducing daytime sleepiness among older adults receiving LTSS.


2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (29_suppl) ◽  
pp. 215-215
Author(s):  
Areej El-Jawahri ◽  
Harry VanDusen ◽  
Lara Traeger ◽  
Joel Fishbein ◽  
Tanya Keenan ◽  
...  

215 Background: Patients undergoinghematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) experience a steep deterioration in quality of life (QOL) and mood during hospitalization for HCT. The impact of this deterioration on patients’ long-term QOL and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms is unknown. Methods: We conducted a prospective longitudinal study of patients hospitalized for HCT. At baseline (day-6), day+1, day+8, and 6 months post-HCT, we assessed QOL (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bone Marrow Transplantation [FACT-BMT]) and mood (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS]). We used the PTSD Checklist to assess for PTSD symptoms at 6 months. We used multivariable linear regression models to identify predictors of QOL and PTSD symptoms at 6 months post-HCT. Results: We enrolled 97% (90/93) of consecutively eligible patients undergoing autologous (n = 30), myeloablative allogeneic (n = 30), or reduced intensity allogeneic (n = 30) HCT. Overall, patients’ QOL at 6 months (mean FACT-BMT: 110, 95%CI [104-116]) recovered to baseline pre-transplant values (mean FACT-BMT: 110, 95% CI [107-115]). At 6 months, 28.4% of participants met provisional diagnostic criteria for PTSD, and 43.3% had clinically significant depression. In multivariable regression analyses adjusting for baseline QOL, mood, other covariates, change in QOL and depression scores during hospitalization for HCT predicted impaired QOL (DQOL β = 1.13, P < 0.0001, D HADS-depression β = 2.51, P = 0.001) and PTSD symptoms (DQOL β = 0.50, P < 0.0001, DHADS-depression β = 1.22, P < 0.0001) at 6 months post-HCT. Conclusions: While patients’ overall QOL at 6 months post-HCT returned to baseline values, a significant proportion met provisional diagnostic criteria for PTSD and depression. The decline in QOL and increase in depressive symptoms during hospitalization for HCT were the most important predictors of long-term QOL impairment and PTSD symptoms. Future studies should evaluate whether interventions to improve QOL and reduce psychological distress during HCT may improve long-term QOL and reduce the risk of PTSD symptoms.


2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 272-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophia K. Smith ◽  
Deborah K. Mayer ◽  
Sheryl Zimmerman ◽  
Christianna S. Williams ◽  
Habtamu Benecha ◽  
...  

Purpose Little is known about change in quality of life (QOL) among long-term cancer survivors. We examined change over time in QOL among long-term survivors of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and identified demographic, clinical, and psychosocial risk factors for poor outcomes. Methods Surveys were mailed to 682 lymphoma survivors who participated in a study 5 years earlier, when on average they were 10.4 years postdiagnosis. Standardized measures of QOL, perceptions of the impact of cancer, symptoms, medical history, and demographic variables were reported at both time points and examined using linear regression modeling to identify predictors of QOL over time. Results A total of 566 individuals participated (83% response rate) who were a mean of 15.3 years postdiagnosis; 52% were women, and 87% were white. One third of participants (32%) reported persistently high or improved QOL, yet a notable proportion (42%) reported persistently low or worsening QOL since the earlier survey. Participants who received only biologic systemic therapy reported improvement in physical health despite the passage of time. Older age, more comorbidity, and more or increasing negative and decreasing positive perceptions of cancer's impact were independent predictors of poor QOL. Lymphoma symptom burden, less social support, and having received a transplantation were related to negative perceptions of cancer's impact. Conclusion Moderate to severe symptom burden, limited social support, or having received a transplantation should alert the clinician to potential need for supportive services. Perceptions of cancer's impact are associated with QOL cross-sectionally and longitudinally; modifying these perceptions may thus provide a strategy for improving QOL.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Mirabell Lehnerer ◽  
Benjamin Hotter ◽  
Inken Padberg ◽  
Petra Knispel ◽  
Dike Remstedt ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Stroke patients are often affected by long-term disabilities with needs concerning social issues. There is relatively little consideration of social recovery of patients and the support required to return to work, receive social benefits, participate in daily life activities, maintain contact with family and friends and to organize financial affairs. In our study we aimed to investigate if existing tools record social needs adequately. We analyzed the current provision of social support provided in long-term care after stroke and whether unmet social needs were associated with quality of life, caregiver burden, overall function and degree of disability. Methods: Our analysis is part of the Managing Aftercare of Stroke study (MAS-I), a cross-sectional observational study of patient needs 2-3 years after initial stroke. Assessment tools included the Nikolaus-score (social situation), the EuroQoL (quality of life), the German Burden Scale for Family Caregivers (caregiver burden), the modified Rankin Scale (disability / dependence), Stroke Impact Scale (function and degree of disability) and the Stroke Survivor Needs Questionnaire (unmet needs). Results: Overall 57 patients were included in MAS-I, with ten patients classified in urgent need of socio-economic support according to the Nikolaus-score. Patients with lower than normal Nikolaus-score had a higher degree of disability. Thirty percent of all patients had never received professional social support. Social worker contact happened mostly during the stay in acute hospital or rehabilitation institution. Only four patients (11%) reported long-term support after discharge. Apart from social worker contact during acute care, 43% of patients had unmet needs in the long-term aftercare. Forty percent of all patients included in MAS-I were recommended for social work intervention after an in-depth analysis of their situation. Finally, we saw that unmet social needs were associated with lower quality of life and higher caregiver burden. Conclusions: Our data suggest significant unmet needs in social care in long-term stroke patients. Screening tools for unmet social needs such as the Nikolaus-score do not holistically report patients’ needs.


Cancer ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 109 (8) ◽  
pp. 1659-1667 ◽  
Author(s):  
Floortje Mols ◽  
Neil K. Aaronson ◽  
Ad J. J. M. Vingerhoets ◽  
Jan-Willem W. Coebergh ◽  
Gerard Vreugdenhil ◽  
...  

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