scholarly journals MANAGEMENT OF DEPRESSION IN TERMINALLY ILL PATIENTS – A CRITICAL REVIEW

Author(s):  
Balaji O ◽  
Laxminarayana Kurady Bairy ◽  
Veena Nayak

Depression is a well-recognized risk factor for shortened life span from cancer. Depression is among the main causes of disability in the world leadingto increased suffering and mortality. As per research surveys over the years, prevalence among cancer patients varies widely from 3% to 38% formajor depression and 1.5-52% for depression spectrum syndromes. The need of the hour is to effectively treat depression in cancer patients so thatthe quality of life can be improved and thereby patient survival. Both psychological and pharmacological interventions and the combination of bothvery much effective in treating depression in cancer patients. A broad range of therapies now exist, and the art of such therapy is the strategic selectionof components from several models to best respond to the needs of the individual patient and his/her family in the specific circumstances, whetherclinical, psychological, spiritual, or social.Keywords: Depression, Tricyclic anti-depressants, Psychotherapy, Adverse effects.

Author(s):  
Li-Fang Chang ◽  
Li-Fen Wu ◽  
Chi-Kang Lin ◽  
Ching-Liang Ho ◽  
Yu-Chun Hung ◽  
...  

This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of an inpatient hospice palliative care unit (PCU) and palliative consultation service (PCS) on comprehensive quality of life outcome (CoQoLo) among terminally ill cancer patients. This was a prospective longitudinal study. Terminally ill cancer patients who met the inclusion criteria and received PCU or PCS in a northern Taiwanese medical center were recruited. The CoQoLo Inventory was used to measure CoQoLo level pre- and seven days following hospice care between August 2018 and October 2019. A total of 90 patients completed the study. No significant differences were found in CoQoLo levels between the PCU and PCS groups pre- and seven days following care. However, the CoQoLo level of patients significantly improved seven days following care in both PCU and PCS groups, compared with pre-hospice care. Patients’ age, religious belief, marital status, closeness with family, palliative prognostic index (PPI), and symptom severity were significant concerning CoQoLo levels after adjusting for patients’ baseline characteristics. PCU and PCS showed no difference in CoQoLo levels, but both of them can improve CoQoLo among terminally ill cancer patients. These patients could receive PCU or PCS to achieve a good CoQoLo at the end-of-life stage.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 529
Author(s):  
Yofa Anggriani Utama

Cancer is one of the causes of death in both developed and developing countries, cancer is increasing in developing countries due to increasing lifestyle, breast cancer is a cancer that causes death in women in the world, breast cancer is the highest contributor to mortality in women in the world, 43.3 per 100,000. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship of family support to the quality of life of breast cancer patients. The research design used was observational analytic with cross sectional approach. The sampling technique used purposive sampling technique, the study sample amounted to 63 breast cancer patients. The results show that there is a relationship between family support and the quality of life of breast cancer patients with a p value of 0.032. shows there is a relationship between family support for the quality of life of patients with breast cancer. Suggestions that nurses can improve the quality of nursing services, and provide motivation to patients and families of breast cancer in carrying out breast cancer treatment.


2019 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
pp. 153473541985909 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Gonella ◽  
Riccardo Sperlinga ◽  
Veronica Sciannameo ◽  
Valerio Dimonte ◽  
Sara Campagna

Purpose. This study aimed to characterize breakthrough pain (BTP) and investigate its impact on quality-of-life (QoL) in terminally-ill cancer patients. Similarities and differences between high and low predictable BTP were also tested. Methods. Secondary analysis of a multicenter longitudinal observational study included 92 patients at their end-of-life. BTP was assessed with a short form of the Italian version of the Alberta Breakthrough Pain Assessment Tool. QoL was assessed with the Palliative Outcome Scale (0-40). Patients were stratified by self-reported BTP predictability into unpredictable BTP (never or rarely able to predict BTP) and predictable BTP (sometimes to always able to predict BTP). Results. In all, 665 BTP episodes were recorded (median 0.86 episodes/day). A median duration of 30 minutes and a median peak intensity score of 7 out of 10 were reported. Time to peak was <10 minutes, 10 to 30 minutes, and ≥30 minutes in 267 (41.1%), 259 (39.9%), and 30 (4.6%) of the episodes, respectively. Onset of relief occurred after a median of 30 minutes. Time to peak ( P < .001) and duration ( P = .046) of BTP was shorter in patients with predictable pain ( n = 31), who usually were younger than those with unpredictable pain ( P = .03). The mean (SD) QoL score was 14.6 (4.6). No difference in QoL between patients with predictable and unpredictable BTP was found ( P = .49). Conclusions. In terminally-ill cancer patients, BTP is a severe problem with a negative impact on QoL and has different characteristics according to its predictability.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S533-S533
Author(s):  
Daniel Doh ◽  
Kwadwo Adusei-Asante ◽  
Vicki Banham

Abstract In most parts of the world, people are now living longer lives, which presents both opportunities and concerns over how to make the ageing process a worthwhile experience. The World Health Organisation’s Active Ageing model became a prominent global policy response since 2002 and has evolved into different country-level ageing policies. While a considerable volume of literature exists on active ageing – testing the validity of its various components, there is limited empirical evidence of how social interaction contributes to active ageing for older people and how it can be promoted through policy. In this paper, we examine social interaction and how it contributes to lived experiences of active ageing among a sample of 30 older Ghanaians living in Australia and Ghana. Our findings confirm the significance of social interaction for active ageing, and shows that social interaction creates a sense of purpose for living, which leads to the ability of the individual to build resilience, which mitigates anxieties and pains associated with ill health (especially for frail older people); enhances self-motivation for play and fun; empowers the individual to explore opportunities for continuous activity including leisure, and improves the general feeling of happiness resulting in active ageing – quality of life. The paper’s main argument is that social interaction presents potentials for improving the quality of life (active ageing) for older people and needs to be carefully considered in policy, research and practice.


2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 981-990 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Gagnon ◽  
Lise Fillion ◽  
Marie-Anik Robitaille ◽  
Michèle Girard ◽  
François Tardif ◽  
...  

AbstractObjective:We developed a specific cognitive–existential intervention to improve existential distress in nonmetastatic cancer patients. The present study reports the feasibility of implementing and evaluating this intervention, which involved 12 weekly sessions in both individual and group formats, and explores the efficacy of the intervention on existential and global quality of life (QoL) measures.Method:Some 33 nonmetastatic cancer patients were randomized between the group intervention, the individual intervention, and the usual condition of care. Evaluation of the intervention on the existential and global QoL of patients was performed using the existential well-being subscale and the global scale of the McGill Quality of Life (MQoL) Questionnaire.Results:All participants agreed that their participation in the program helped them deal with their illness and their personal life. Some 88.9% of participants agreed that this program should be proposed for all cancer patients, and 94.5% agreed that this intervention helped them to reflect on the meaning of their life. At post-intervention, both existential and psychological QoL improved in the group intervention versus usual care (p = 0.086 and 0.077, respectively). At the three-month follow-up, global and psychological QoL improved in the individual intervention versus usual care (p = 0.056 and 0.047, respectively).Significance of results:This pilot study confirms the relevance of the intervention and the feasibility of the recruitment and randomization processes. The data strongly suggest a potential efficacy of the intervention for existential and global quality of life, which will have to be confirmed in a larger study.


1986 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
John N. Morris ◽  
Samy Suissa ◽  
Sylvia Sherwood ◽  
Susan M. Wright ◽  
David Greer

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
S L Schröder ◽  
N Schumann ◽  
M Richter

Abstract Background Financial toxicity was hardly examined in the context of public health. It is proven that financial distress following a cancer diagnosis can have an impact on the quality of life and mortality. Additionally, it was found that subjective indicators of financial toxicity have a stronger effect than objective indicators. Nevertheless, less is known about how higher costs can impact on the individual patient’s well-being. The aim of this study was to analyse the major drivers that lead from financial consequences to subjective financial distress in a country with statutory health insurance. Methods Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 39 cancer patients, aged between 40 and 86 years, in Germany. Inductive content analysis of data was performed and the individual patient's pathways are recently compared and contrasted. Results Above all, we found that financial distress is not only induced by higher costs and lower available money. Moreover, independently of whether patients experienced any financial decline, they experienced making financial adjustments and feeling financially stressed. The preliminary results show that the patient's ability of good money management and trust in one’s own skills being able to get along with less money might predict psychosocial consequences. Conclusions Screening instruments for financial toxicity are important to effectively detect patients whose quality of life might be worsened by their financial situation. It might be that rather financial skills than the amount of costs are important indicators of financial distress. Key messages Even cancer patients experiencing almost no financial decline during the period of cancer treatment might experience lower quality of life caused by financial distress. The ability and trust in oneself money management might have the strongest impact on subjective financial stress.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document