Psychosocial stress in cancer patients during and after radiotherapy.

Sehlen, S; Hollenhorst, H; Schymura, B; Herschbach, P; Aydemir, U; Firsching, M; Duhmke, E

doi:10.1007/s00066-003-1018-z

2003

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Title:: Psychosocial stress in cancer patients during and after radiotherapy.
Document type:: Journal Article; Article
Author(s):: Sehlen, S; Hollenhorst, H; Schymura, B; Herschbach, P; Aydemir, U; Firsching, M; Duhmke, E
Abstract:: BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate stress in tumor patients by means of a cancer-specific questionnaire in the course of radiotherapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Disease-specific aspects of psychosocial stress (Herschbach's Questionnaire on Stress in Cancer Patients, QSC) were self-assessed by patients with different tumor types before radiotherapy (ti1), after radiotherapy (ti2), and 6 weeks after the end of radiotherapy (ti3). We investigated 265 of 446 patients (157 male, 108 female; median age 58.6 years) with complete data of ti1-ti3. RESULTS: In the course of investigation, the most prominent stress scale of the patients proved to be physical efficiency, without significant changes during treatment and after therapy. Significant increases in stress were observed for anxiety, pain, and information at ti3 (p < 0.001, p = 0.001, p = 0.035). Women showed significantly higher stress from ti1 to ti3, younger patients displayed a decrease in anxiety, whereas elderly patients demonstrated an increase (p = 0.016). Breast cancer patients had the highest stress levels. The probability of correctly predicting increase in stress (sensitivity) was 78% and the specificity 67%. The relevant predictor variables were tumor stage, addiction to alcohol or nicotine, metabolic disorder, marital status, and age. CONCLUSION: Patients who experienced stress at the beginning of radiotherapy also had the same or increased levels of stress during and shortly after treatment and needed permanent psychosocial support to improve quality of life. The identification of patients with high stress levels at the beginning of therapy could be helpful.
Journal title abbreviation:: Strahlenther Onkol
Year:: 2003
Journal volume:: 179
Journal issue:: 3
Pages contribution:: 175-80
Language:: eng
Fulltext / DOI:: doi:10.1007/s00066-003-1018-z
Pubmed ID:: http://view.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12627260
Print-ISSN:: 0179-7158
TUM Institution:: Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie
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mediaTUM Gesamtbestand Einrichtungen Schools TUM School of Medicine and Health Departments Clinical Medicine Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie (Prof. Henningsen)2003