Indicators of distress in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients

Abstract

Background. The diagnosis, treatment, and long-term management of cancer can present individuals with a multitude of stressors at various points in that trajectory. Psychosocial distress may appear early in the diagnostic process and have negative effects on compliance with treatment and subsequent quality of life.Purpose. The aim of the study was to determine early-phase predictors of distress before any medical treatment.Method. Consistent with the goals of the study, 123 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients (20 to 74 years old) completed multiple indicators of knowledge about breast cancer management and treatment, attitudes toward cancer, social support, coping efficacy, and distress.Results. SEM analysis confirmed the hypothesized model. Age was negatively associated with the patient’s knowledge (β = − 0.22), which, in turn, was positively associated with both attitudes toward breast cancer (β = 0.39) and coping self-efficacy (β = 0.36). Self-efficacy was then directly related to psychological distress (β = − 0.68).Conclusions. These findings establish indicators of distress in patients early in the cancer trajectory. From a practical perspective, our results have implications for screening for distress and for the development of early interventions that may be followed by healthcare professionals to reduce psychological distress.

Psychological distress in patients with breast cancer after different antitumor treatments

“…Его общими для больных раком молочной железы (РМЖ) прояв-лениями, по данным многих авторов, являются трево-га, депрессия, измененные эмоциональные реакции и межличностные отношения, социальная изоляция [2][3][4][5][6]. Индивидуальные различия в тяжести психоло-гического дистресса в основном связаны с возрастом, уровнем образования, наличием знаний о РМЖ и его лечении, собственной способностью противостоять стрессу, социальным положением и поддержкой окру-жающих [7].…”

“…Причем, как отмечают авторы [25], качество жизни, связанное со здоровьем, выше у больных, перенесших интраоперационную лучевую терапию, по сравнению с перенесшими дистанцион-ную лучевую терапию. Проведенное с помощью Госпи-тальной шкалы тревоги и депрессии психологическое исследование 323 пациенток с РМЖ, получавших про-тивоопухолевое лечение, позволило выделить подгруп-пу из 8 % больных, у которых на фоне проводимой химиотерапии отмечались высокие показатели ди-стресса на протяжении 8 мес после постановки диаг-ноза [7].…”

Self-efficacy for Coping Moderates the Effects of Distress on Quality of Life in Palliative Cancer Care

“…Cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship are experiences that could challenge the coping capacity of those affected and threaten psychosocial functioning and quality of life. The importance of feelings of personal effectiveness and mastery for successful coping have been reported in a number of studies and self-efficacy for coping with cancer appears to promote more favorable outcomes (16)(17)(18)(19). Previous studies, in fact, showed that cancer patients with higher coping self-efficacy are more likely to engage in effective strategies and demonstrate greater persistence in trying to achieve the desired psychosocial (e.g.…”

Self-Efficacy for Coping with Cancer Enhances the Effect of Reiki Treatments During the Pre-Surgery Phase of Breast Cancer Patients

“…Summarizing, it is the belief in one's capabilities to produce desirable outcomes (19). Along those lines, selfefficacy for coping with cancer, that is the expectations about the ability to cope with cancer, plays a critical role in influencing cancer-related outcomes including anxiety, directly or indirectly (4,20,21). There is a negative relationship between perceived self-efficacy for coping with cancer and anxiety in cancer patients (4,(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25) and, specifically, in breast cancer patients (4,26).…”

“…Along those lines, selfefficacy for coping with cancer, that is the expectations about the ability to cope with cancer, plays a critical role in influencing cancer-related outcomes including anxiety, directly or indirectly (4,20,21). There is a negative relationship between perceived self-efficacy for coping with cancer and anxiety in cancer patients (4,(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25) and, specifically, in breast cancer patients (4,26). Recently different studies are showing an extension of the role of selfefficacy, specifically in cancer patients, as statistic moderator of the effect of cancer stressors (27), and also in moderating the effect of intervention in breast cancer patients (28).…”