Abstract
Psychological distress among cancer survivors is common. It is unknown if symptoms predate diagnosis or differ from patients
without cancer because studies are limited to patient follow-up. Linked cohort (Wisconsin Longitudinal Study) and tumor registry
records were used to assess the psychological distress response pre- to post-cancer diagnosis. Adjusted predicted probabilities
of being in one of five categories of change for three psychological distress measures (depression, anxiety, well-being) were
compared for participants diagnosed with cancer between 1993–1994 and 2004–2005 and participants without cancer (N = 5,162). Cancer survivors were more likely to experience clinically significant increases (≥0.8 standard deviation) in depression
(15, 95 % CI = 12–18 %) and anxiety (19 %, CI = 16–22 %) compared to their no-cancer counterparts (10 %, CI = 10–11 %; 11 %,
CI = 11–12 %). Cancer survivors <5 years from diagnosis were more likely to experience worsening depression. Survivors ≥5 years
were more likely to experience worsening anxiety. No significant results were found for well-being. Characterizing the psychological
distress response is a prerequisite for identifying at-risk patients and communicating expected symptoms, allowing for proactive
resource provision.
without cancer because studies are limited to patient follow-up. Linked cohort (Wisconsin Longitudinal Study) and tumor registry
records were used to assess the psychological distress response pre- to post-cancer diagnosis. Adjusted predicted probabilities
of being in one of five categories of change for three psychological distress measures (depression, anxiety, well-being) were
compared for participants diagnosed with cancer between 1993–1994 and 2004–2005 and participants without cancer (N = 5,162). Cancer survivors were more likely to experience clinically significant increases (≥0.8 standard deviation) in depression
(15, 95 % CI = 12–18 %) and anxiety (19 %, CI = 16–22 %) compared to their no-cancer counterparts (10 %, CI = 10–11 %; 11 %,
CI = 11–12 %). Cancer survivors <5 years from diagnosis were more likely to experience worsening depression. Survivors ≥5 years
were more likely to experience worsening anxiety. No significant results were found for well-being. Characterizing the psychological
distress response is a prerequisite for identifying at-risk patients and communicating expected symptoms, allowing for proactive
resource provision.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-10
- DOI 10.1007/s10865-012-9453-x
- Authors
- Jessica R. Schumacher, Department of Health Services Research, Management and Policy, University of Florida, P.O. Box 100195, Gainesville, FL 32610-0195, USA
- Mari Palta, Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Noelle K. LoConte, Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology/Oncology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Amy Trentham-Dietz, Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Whitney P. Witt, Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Susan M. Heidrich, School of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Maureen A. Smith, Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Journal Journal of Behavioral Medicine
- Online ISSN 1573-3521
- Print ISSN 0160-7715