Racial disparities in posttraumatic stress after diagnosis of localized breast cancer: the BQUAL study

Mental Health Challenges in Cancer Patients: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Depression and Anxiety

Advancements in cancer treatment and early detection have extended survival rates, transforming many cancers into chronic conditions. However, cancer diagnosis and treatment can trigger significant psychological distress, including depression and anxiety, impacting patient outcomes and care. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of and identify the risk factors for depression and anxiety among cancer patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted, including patients under the care of the oncology department at a tertiary medical center between June 2021 and October 2023. Depression and anxiety were assessed using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) short forms. Logistic regression analysis identified risk factors for depression and anxiety. The study population included 159 patients, with 40.3% reporting worsening mental health, but only about half of them received therapy. Among the study participants, 22.6% experienced symptoms of depression and 30.2% experienced symptoms of anxiety. Single-cancer patients and those with metastases were at increased risk for depression, while those with a disease duration of more than a year and patients with female-specific cancer were more likely to experience anxiety. Given the high prevalence of mental health deterioration in cancer patients, closer monitoring and validated assessment tools are essential to improve depression and anxiety diagnosis and facilitate early interventions.

A Systematic Review of Trajectories of Clinically Relevant Distress Amongst Adults with Cancer: Course and Predictors

To improve interventions for people with cancer who experience clinically relevant distress, it is important to understand how distress evolves over time and why. This review synthesizes the literature on trajectories of distress in adult patients with cancer. Databases were searched for longitudinal studies using a validated clinical tool to group patients into distress trajectories. Twelve studies were identified reporting trajectories of depression, anxiety, adjustment disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder. Heterogeneity between studies was high, including the timing of baseline assessments and follow-up intervals. Up to 1 in 5 people experienced persistent depression or anxiety. Eight studies examined predictors of trajectories; the most consistent predictor was physical symptoms or functioning. Due to study methodology and heterogeneity, limited conclusions could be drawn about why distress is maintained or emerges for some patients. Future research should use valid clinical measures and assess theoretically driven predictors amendable to interventions.

Post-traumatic stress symptoms, post-traumatic stress disorder, and post-traumatic growth among cancer survivors: a systematic scoping review of interventions

The detrimental effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms (PTSS) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the benefits of Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG) are well established for cancer survivors. Increased cancer survival rates necessitate an understanding of how these two paradoxical outcomes, PTSS/PTSD and PTG, are targeted through interventions. This systematic scoping review aims to (a) examine existing evidence on interventions targeting PTSS/PTSD and/or PTG among cancer survivors and (b) identify knowledge gaps to inform future research. Following the six steps of a scoping review, 76 articles met the inclusion criteria. Quantitative articles were examined using descriptive analysis. Frequency counts of the collated data were tabulated into summary tables. Qualitative articles were reviewed using meta-synthesis. Most articles were quantitative (n = 52) and targeted PTG (n = 68) through promising intervention approaches such as psychotherapy, mindfulness, physical activity, and psilocybin-assisted therapy. Three key implications for future research and practice were synthesized: (1) mechanistic considerations for intervention design that provide a roadmap for rigorous and theoretically-grounded research; (2) the need for improved representation of cancer survivors in trials; and (3) potential facilitators of intervention efficacy. Together, these findings can direct future research to optimize interventions to reduce PTSS/PTSD and promote PTG achievement among cancer survivors.

Psychological Aspects of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women. Associated psychological symptoms include stress, adjustment difficulties, anxiety, depression, impaired cognitive function, sleep disturbances, altered body image, sexual dysfunction, and diminished overall well-being. Distress screening and assessment identifies women who will benefit from therapeutic interventions. Addressing these symptoms improves compliance with treatment and outcomes including disease-related outcomes, psychological symptoms, and quality of life. The most effective treatments include teaching coping skills such as expressing emotion, along with other structured cognitive behavioral, interpersonal, and mindfulness approaches. Patients should be provided these psychosocial supports throughout their cancer journey.

Racial and ethnic differences in post-traumatic stress trajectories in breast cancer survivors

PURPOSE

To describe differences in post-traumatic stress (PTS) symptoms over time among racial and ethnic minoritized breast cancer survivors (BCS) with comorbid diabetes.

DESIGN

In a multisite longitudinal study, post-traumatic stress was evaluated at baseline, 6 and 12 months through self-reported questionnaires (Impact of Events Scale-Revised [IES-R]).

PARTICIPANTS

One hundred and seventy-eight post-treatment BCS with diabetes were recruited from three tertiary medical centers.

FINDINGS

Relative to non-Hispanic White women, minoritized women reported higher total IES-R scores at all time points. In the adjusted model, Latina women reported persistently higher IES-R total scores and Latina, and 'Other' women reported higher avoidance scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Minoritized BCS with comorbid diabetes report higher rates of cancer related PTS that persist over 12 months.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PSYCHOSOCIAL PROVIDERS

Post diagnosis PTS evaluation and support is important in survivorship and primary care practices. Linkage to socially and culturally sensitive community support may be warranted.

The predictive role of intolerance of uncertainty and trait of worry in breast cancer patients: A prospective, observational, single-center clinical study

Background

Breast cancer diagnosis and treatment compromise well-being in a pervasive way, and negative consequences may remain after recovery. The psychological side of breast cancer has been extensively investigated; however, the role of intrusive thoughts and intolerance of uncertainty have been studied less systematically.

Objectives

The present study aimed to prospectively evaluate worry content, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress symptoms and to define the role of the trait of worry and intolerance of uncertainty (IU) related to breast cancer.

Methods

Patients with their first breast cancer diagnosis were enrolled in a single-center, prospective observational trial. The trait of worry and IU were assessed using the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) and the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale-Revised (IUS-R). The psychological aspects were evaluated using the Worry Domains Questionnaire (WDQ), the Beck Anxiety (BAI), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R). Questionnaires were administered in a randomized sequence at diagnosis (T0), 3 months post-diagnosis (T1), and 12 months post-diagnosis (T2).

Results

One hundred and fifty eligible patients were enrolled in the study and provided the T0 assessment. Further compliance rates were 57% at T1 and 64% at T2. All patients showed a significant and continuous increase in the IES-R scale (p < 0.0001) from diagnosis to the end of the study, while no significant changes were observed for the WDQ, BAI, and BDI-II scales. The clinical PSWQ levels and/or high levels of the IUS-R score were the only variables that aided the distinction between patients who maintain high levels of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic disorders and those who did not.

Conclusion

An early assessment of the components of the trait of worry and intolerance of uncertainty could be critical in identifying patients with a higher psychopathological risk. Furthermore, if future studies confirm the present findings, support and monitoring throughout the prognosis may present crucial benefits, and possibly affect the course of treatment.

Feasibility and acceptability of written exposure therapy in addressing posttraumatic stress disorder in Iranian patients with breast cancer

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the feasibility and acceptability of written exposure therapy (WET) in reducing symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Iranian women with breast cancer. Secondary aims included examining the influence of WET on quality of life (QoL), overgeneral memory and illness perceptions.

METHOD

Forty-six females with breast cancer and clinical symptoms of PTSD referred to the Razi Hospital in Rasht, Iran were randomly assigned to either WET (n = 23) or control (n = 23) groups. WET is a 5-session low-intensity exposure-based intervention for treating PTSD. The control group had no additional contact. Measures assessing PTSD, illness perceptions, overgeneral memory, and QoL were administered at baseline, post-intervention and 3-month follow-up.

RESULTS

Acceptability of WET was high; all participants completed all WET sessions. At post-intervention, 95.65% of the WET group met criteria for reliable change and 100% met criteria for minimal clinically important difference (MCID) and clinically significant change in PTSD symptom improvement. At follow-up, all WET participants met criteria for reliable change, MCID and clinically significant change in PTSD symptom improvement. No participants in the control group met reliable change, MCID or clinically significant change. The WET group had improved QoL and memory specificity and decreased threatening illness perceptions at post-intervention and follow-up when compared to controls.

CONCLUSION

WET may be a useful intervention for use with breast cancer patients with PTSD symptoms and may be an important adjunct to medical and pharmacological treatments, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This study indicates further research in this area is warranted.

Distress Trajectories in Black and White Breast Cancer Survivors: From Diagnosis to Survivorship

BACKGROUND

Black breast cancer survivors have greater morbidity and mortality than White survivors. However, evidence comparing Black survivors' psychological symptoms with their White counterparts has been mixed. Prior studies have not compared Black and White survivor's distress-related symptom trajectories from pre- to post-treatment - the goal of the current study.

METHODS

At three annual visits from shortly after diagnosis to 6 and 18 months post-treatment, 195 women (n = 163 White; n = 32 Black) reported their cancer-related distress (intrusive thoughts and avoidance), perceived stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms, fatigue, and pain.

RESULTS

Adjusting for age, educational attainment, income, treatment type, stage at diagnosis, and physical comorbidities, Black and White breast cancer survivors had different trajectories of cancer-related distress (p = .004), intrusive thoughts about cancer diagnosis and treatment (p = .002), perceived stress (p = .04), emotional fatigue (p = .01), and vigor (p = .02). Specifically, among White women, these distress-related symptoms improved from diagnosis to 6 months post-treatment (ps < 0.0001) and then remained stable between 6 and 18 months post-treatment, whereas Black women had persistently elevated distress - even 18 months after finishing treatment. Additionally, Black women reported more avoidance of cancer-related thoughts and emotions across visits (p = .047). Race was unrelated to the trajectories of anxiety and depressive symptoms, other fatigue subscales, or pain levels (ps > 0.08).

CONCLUSION

Longitudinal assessment of the same breast cancer survivors from diagnosis to early survivorship revealed that Black and White survivors had divergent trajectories of psychological distress symptoms that were not reliably evident at a single timepoint. Overall, White women reported less psychological distress from pre- to post-treatment, but Black women's distress remained high from diagnosis to 18 months post-treatment. If left untreated, Black women's high distress levels may contribute to their poorer health throughout survivorship.

Neuroimmunology of cancer and associated symptomology

Evolutionarily the nervous system and immune cells have evolved to communicate with each other to control inflammation and host responses against injury. Recent findings in neuroimmune communication demonstrate that these mechanisms extend to cancer initiation and progression. Lymphoid structures and tumors, which are often associated with inflammatory infiltrate, are highly innervated by multiple nerve types (e.g. sympathetic, parasympathetic, sensory). Recent preclinical and clinical studies demonstrate that targeting the nervous system could be a therapeutic strategy to promote anti-tumor immunity while simultaneously reducing cancer-associated neurological symptoms, such as chronic pain, fatigue, and cognitive impairment. Sympathetic nerve activity is associated with physiological or psychological stress, which can be induced by tumor development and cancer diagnosis. Targeting the stress response through suppression of sympathetic activity or activation of parasympathetic activity has been shown to drive activation of effector T cells and inhibition of myeloid derived suppressor cells within the tumor. Additionally, there is emerging evidence that sensory nerves may regulate tumor growth and metastasis by promoting or inhibiting immunosuppression in a tumor-type specific manner. Since neural effects are often tumor-type specific, further study is required to optimize clinical therapeutic strategies. This review examines the emerging evidence that neuroimmune communication can regulate anti-tumor immunity as well as contribute to development of cancer-related neurological symptoms.

Dissociation among individuals receiving cancer care: a scoping review

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION

Dissociation is a common presentation of trauma, distinguishable from classic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. While pre-cancer and cancer-related traumatic experiences are prevalent among cancer-affected individuals, the specific impact of traumatic dissociation is unclear.

LITERATURE SEARCH

This scoping review includes a search of English articles published between 1980 and 2019 referencing dissociation in the context of cancer-affected adults.

DATA EVALUATION/SYNTHESIS

Articles assessed how dissociation was addressed in relation to pre-cancer and cancer-related trauma exposure and treatment. Out of 1,265 articles, 71 met inclusion criteria, and 15 underwent a full review. Two studies addressed dissociation related to pre-cancer trauma, nine in regard to cancer-related trauma only, and four in relation to both trauma types. No studies included experimental designs or described interventions.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite high rates of trauma exposure among cancer-affected adults, limited studies specifically address the impact of dissociation. Further inquiry on this topic is needed, especially on treatment implications.

Racial and ethnic disparities in post-traumatic stress and illness coherence in breast cancer survivors with comorbid diabetes

CONTEXT

Breast cancer survivors (BCS) with comorbid diabetes mellitus (DM) and of racial and ethnic minority status are at higher risk of cancer-related post-traumatic stress (PTS) and severe illness beliefs. These affective and cognitive outcomes influence self-management and treatment adherence in patients with chronic conditions, yet little is known regarding the interplay of these processes in diverse BCS with comorbid DM.

OBJECTIVES

The purposes of this study were to (1) describe racial and ethnic differences in cancer-related PTS and illness perceptions; and (2) examine the relationship between PTS and illness perceptions in BCS with comorbid DM.

METHODS

Female BCS with DM completed measures of cancer related stress (Impact of Events Scale-Revised) and cancer and DM illness perception (Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised). Logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association between PTS, race and illness perceptions.

RESULTS

Of the 135 BCS with comorbid DM, the mean (standard deviation) age was 65.3 (7.1) years, 38% were Black, 31% Non-Hispanic White (NHW), 13% Hispanic/Latina, and 18% were "other." Minority women were more likely to report cancer-related PTS (p < 0.01). In adjusted analyses, PTS was associated with chronicity (odds ratio [OR] = 9.79, p = 0.005), time-cycle (OR = 6.71, p = 0.001), negative consequences (OR = 3.95, p = 0.018), and negative emotional impact (OR = 12.63, p < 0.001) of cancer.

CONCLUSION

Minority BCS with comorbid DM report higher rates of cancer-related PTS and lower cancer illness coherence relative to NHW survivors. Cancer-related PTS influences cancer and DM illness perceptions. Culturally sensitive care is needed to improve these outcomes in minority BCS.

KEY MESSAGE

This article presents findings from a cross sectional cohort of an understudied population of racially and ethnically diverse BCS with comorbid diabetes. The results indicate that the occurrence of PTS is significantly higher in racial and ethnic minority women and is strongly associated with more severe illness perceptions.

An overview of cancer health disparities: new approaches and insights and why they matter

Cancer health disparities remain stubbornly entrenched in the US health care system. The Affordable Care Act was legislation to target these disparities in health outcomes. Expanded access to health care, reduction in tobacco use, uptake of other preventive measures and cancer screening, and improved cancer therapies greatly reduced cancer mortality among women and men and underserved communities in this country. Yet, disparities in cancer outcomes remain. Underserved populations continue to experience an excessive cancer burden. This burden is largely explained by health care disparities, lifestyle factors, cultural barriers, and disparate exposures to carcinogens and pathogens, as exemplified by the COVID-19 epidemic. However, research also shows that comorbidities, social stress, ancestral and immunobiological factors, and the microbiome, may contribute to health disparities in cancer risk and survival. Recent studies revealed that comorbid conditions can induce an adverse tumor biology, leading to a more aggressive disease and decreased patient survival. In this review, we will discuss unanswered questions and new opportunities in cancer health disparity research related to comorbid chronic diseases, stress signaling, the immune response, and the microbiome, and what contribution these factors may have as causes of cancer health disparities.

EMDR in Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review

Background: Psychological distress is common among patients with cancer, with severe consequences on their quality of life. Anxiety and depression are the most common clinical presentation of psychological distress in cancer patients, but in some cases cancer may represent a traumatic event resulting in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Currently, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is considered an evidence-based treatment for PTSD, but recent studies also showed its effectiveness for anxiety and depression. The aim of the present systematic review is to summarize the current literature on the effect of EMDR on cancer-related psychological distress. Methods: A literature search was conducted for peer-reviewed articles about "EMDR" and "cancer patients" in the following electronic databases: PubMed, MEDLINE, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and Cochrane library. Results: Our search identified 7 studies in which EMDR was used with a total of 140 cancer patients. The psychiatric diagnosis was PTSD in 3 studies. Otherwise, the diagnosis concerned the anxious and depressive disorder spectrum. Overall, EMDR treatment schedules used were highly heterogeneous, with a different number of sessions (from 2 to 12) and a different duration of therapy (up to 4 months). However, across all studies analyzed EMDR therapy was judged to be adequate in reducing symptoms of psychological distress in this population. Conclusions: According to the results of our analysis, the level of evidence regarding EMDR efficacy in cancer patients is limited by the scarcity of studies and their low methodological quality. Although better quality research is needed, available data suggest that EMDR could be a promising treatment for psychological distress in patients with cancer.

Systematic review of depressive, anxiety and post-traumatic stress symptoms among Asian American breast cancer survivors

OBJECTIVES

This paper aimed to review the experience of psychopathology symptoms (ie, depressive, anxiety and post-traumatic stress) and their social, cognitive and affective correlates among Asian American breast cancer survivors. Studies on psychosocial interventions for reducing psychopathology symptoms were also included in this review.

DESIGN

A systematic review was conducted.

METHODS

PubMed, PsycINFO and Web of Science were searched from database inception to November 2018. Empirical, peer-reviewed articles on adult women of Asian heritage residing in the USA with breast cancer diagnoses were included in this review. The methodological quality of the included articles was coded.

RESULTS

The search yielded 16 empirical articles, which were all deemed to be of high methodological quality. Eleven studies utilised a quantitative design, two studies utilised a qualitative design and three studies utilised a mixed-methods design. Thirteen were cross-sectional and three were longitudinal in design. Only two intervention studies were identified. Studies showed that Asian American breast cancer survivors endorsed moderate to high levels of depressive symptoms, anxiety and post-traumatic stress symptoms; those who are more acculturated demonstrated lower levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms. Asian American breast cancer survivors with social constraints were more likely to have intrusive thoughts and, in turn, have high levels of psychopathology symptoms. Intervention studies were limited, but the use of community-based participatory research approaches and cultural adaptations were noted strengths of the studies.

DISCUSSION

In addition to discussing clinical implications, we highlight limitations of the literature, including a lack of longitudinal studies and the limited use of standardised diagnostic instruments for assessing psychopathology symptoms among this population. Clarifying the prospective relationships between psychopathology symptoms and their social, cognitive and affective correlates will help inform the development of culturally sensitive psychosocial interventions among Asian American breast cancer survivors.

Temporal relationship of posttraumatic stress disorder symptom clusters during and after an expressive writing intervention for Chinese American breast cancer survivors

OBJECTIVE

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a significant condition and frequently observed among breast cancer survivors. Extant literature has demonstrated the effectiveness of expressive writing interventions in reducing PTSD among breast cancer survivors. However, little is known about how different PTSD symptom clusters influence each other over time during and after the expressive writing intervention among breast cancer survivors. We investigated how the three PTSD symptom clusters (reexperiencing, avoidance and hyperarousal) influence each other during and after an expressive writing intervention among Chinese American breast cancer survivors.

METHODS

Chinese American breast cancer survivors (n = 136) completed an expressive writing intervention. Their PTSD symptoms were assessed at baseline, 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-ups.

RESULTS

Using cross-lagged panel analysis, the model with hyperarousal symptoms at each assessment wave predicting the subsequent severity of avoidance and reexperiencing symptoms indicated the best fit, χ²(52) = 65.422, p = .100; CFI = 0.990, RMSEA = 0.044, 95% CI [0.000, 0.074].

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that hyperarousal symptoms predict the subsequent severity of reexperiencing and avoidance symptoms over time during and after the expressive writing intervention. The findings highlight the importance of early diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of hyperarousal symptoms in enhancing the efficacy of PTSD interventions and reducing the chronicity in PTSD among Chinese American breast cancer survivors. Clinical Trial Registration atClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02946619.

Posttraumatic stress in breast cancer survivors diagnosed at a young age

OBJECTIVE

Young breast cancer patients experience greater psychosocial distress compared with older patients, which raises concern for their risk of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We sought to characterize the prevalence of clinically significant symptoms of PTSD and associated factors among breast cancer survivors diagnosed at a young age.

METHODS

The Young Women's Breast Cancer Study, an ongoing prospective cohort study, enrolled 1302 women diagnosed with breast cancer at age ≤ 40 between 2006 and 2016. Participants complete serial surveys, and we obtained additional information from medical record review. Socio-demographics, anxiety and depression, social support, and psychiatric co-morbidities and medications were assessed at study baseline (median, 5 months post-diagnosis). We defined a participant as having clinically significant posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) by scoring ≥50 on the PTSD Checklist-Specific Version, administered on the 30-month survey.

RESULTS

Among 700 women with stage 1-3 disease, the prevalence of PTSS was 6.3% (95%CI = 4.5-8.1). In multivariable analyses, PTSS was significantly associated with anxiety (OR 12.43, 95%CI = 5.81-26.59, P < .0001) and stage 2 vs 1 disease (OR 2.26, 95%CI = 1.04-4.93, P = .04). PTSS was inversely associated with having a college degree (OR 0.29, 95%CI = 0.13-0.62, P = .002) and greater social support (OR 0.44, 95%CI = 0.21-0.94, P = .03).

CONCLUSIONS

We found similar rates of cancer-related PTSS in breast cancer survivors diagnosed at a young age compared with the general breast cancer population despite their well-documented increased risk of overall distress. Nevertheless, factors associated with posttraumatic stress should be considered at diagnosis and in survivorship to identify young patients who may benefit from psychosocial resources.

Oncology provider and African-American breast cancer survivor perceptions of the emotional experience of transitioning to survivorship

PURPOSE

To examine the emotional experience of African American breast cancer survivors (BCS), and the information exchange between providers and patients, during transitioning to post-treatment survivorship.

RESEARCH APPROACH

We conducted a qualitative study using interviews and focus groups.

PARTICIPANTS

We sought perspectives of oncology providers (n = 27) and African-American breast cancer survivors (BCS) (n = 45) who provided and received care in three counties in Washington State.

METHODS

African-American community consultants conducted interviews and focus groups. Thematic coding and constant comparison were applied to identify emergent themes.

FINDINGS

Participants reported emotional health information and support were needed but not consistently provided, resulting in a sense of survivor isolation. Systemic challenges limited providers' ability to deliver emotional support information. Survivors and providers expressed similar understandings of the emotional impact of transition, but each group highlighted different, yet complementary priorities to address emotional needs of African-American BCS.

CONCLUSIONS

There is congruence between African-American BCS and oncology providers perceptions of the emotional experience of transitioning to post-treatment survivorship, but patients are not receiving adequate information and resources to help them adequately address their emotional needs.

IMPLICATIONS FOR POLICY

Improved care continuity, team-based approaches, and partnerships between health systems and community organization partnerships may help patients and providers recognize and address emotional needs during the transition.

Posttraumatic stress disorder and breast cancer: Risk factors and the role of inflammation and endocrine function

A breast cancer diagnosis can be a life-changing and stressful experience that can lead to chronic mental health conditions such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Greater than one-third of patients initially diagnosed with PTSD after a diagnosis of breast cancer continue to have persistent or worsening PTSD symptoms after 4 years. An emerging body of literature has indicated several key environmental and biological risk factors for PTSD among survivors of breast cancer. Well-recognized risk factors include having a history of childhood trauma, being nonwhite, obesity, younger age at the time of diagnosis, diagnosis with a higher stage of breast cancer, and short time since treatment. Of the emerging risk factors related to fear circuitry in the brain, 2 pathways of particular importance are the stress-driven activation of inflammatory pathways and the long-term effect of antiendocrine therapies. These central and peripheral responses during and after stress exposure are important because increased fear and anxiety can lead to the maintenance of PTSD and worse patient outcomes. Given the poor outcomes associated with PTSD and the high prevalence of breast cancer in women, more research to identify those women at heightened risk of PTSD after breast cancer is warranted to reduce the number of diagnoses and lessen the negative impact of this chronic mental health condition.

Prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder among Lithuanian breast cancer patients and its risk factors

INTRODUCTION

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is more common among oncology patients than in the general population. The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of PTSD symptoms among Lithuanian patients with breast cancer and to analyse its clinical, psychosocial and demographic risk factors.

METHODS

Women with T1-T3/N0-N3/M0 stages of breast cancer took part in this study. There were two phases of the study: the first, before breast surgery (N = 421) and the second, a year after (N = 188). Women were given the following questionnaires: an Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R); Beck's Depression Inventory, second edition (BDI-II); and the Vrana-Lauterbach Traumatic Event Scale, Civilian version (TEQC).

RESULTS

The prevalence of PTSD symptoms significantly decreased over the year. Before surgery, women who were employed, had experienced emotionally traumatic events during their lifespan and were dissatisfied with delivery of the information about the disease had more PTSD symptoms. One year later, those who had undergone breast-saving surgery, were living in a partnership, had a higher education, were unemployed and had experienced severe traumatic events during the previous year had more PTSD symptoms. The IES-R questionnaire's estimates correlated with BDI-II estimates.

CONCLUSIONS

Health care professionals, who work with cancer patients, are recommended to pay closer attention to the stress patients' experience, especially in those more vulnerable women who have several of the aforementioned risk factors. Targeted training for doctors, during which they could learn how to report the diagnosis to oncology patients would be of great benefit.

PTSD symptom clusters associated with short- and long-term adjustment in early diagnosed breast cancer patients

Objectives

We performed an observational prospective cohort study to investigate post-traumatic stress symptoms, emerging after cancer diagnosis, which could influence patients’ short- and long-term adjustment to illness, in order to foster screening measures and management of psychological factors in daily clinical pathways.

Methods

Patients’ post-traumatic stress symptoms, psychological well-being and perceived quality of life were assessed through standardised questionnaires. The Profile of Mood States questionnaire was administered at pre-operative assessment (T0), surgical admission (T1) and discharge from hospital (T2). The Impact of Event Scale and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were administered at T0, T1, T2 and 2 years after discharge (T3). At 2-year follow-up, women were also asked to rate their perceived quality of life on a 0–10 visual analogue scale.

Results

Between January 2014 and April 2015, 150 women were enrolled. Results showed that more than 90% of patients experienced post-traumatic stress symptoms after cancer diagnosis (14% with severe symptoms and 76.7% with moderate symptoms) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms that persisted up to the 2-year from discharge follow-up, with significant improvement only 2 years after hospital discharge. In particular, mediation models showed that intrusive thoughts impede mood adjustment to the disease during the pre-surgical phase, with anxiety amplifying the negative effect, while symptoms of avoidance are more detrimental in the long term for patients’ quality of life.

Conclusion

PTSD symptom clusters have different influence on short- and long-term reaction to illness. Based on this evidence, appropriate interventions to manage PTSDs in the context of oncology should be developed.

β2ARs stimulation in osteoblasts promotes breast cancer cell adhesion to bone marrow endothelial cells in an IL-1β and selectin-dependent manner

Progression and recurrence of breast cancer, as well as reduced survival of patients with breast cancer, are associated with chronic stress, a condition known to impact the hypothalamic-pituitary axis and the autonomic nervous system. Preclinical and clinical evidence support the involvement of the sympathetic nervous system in the control of bone remodeling and in pathologies of the skeleton, including bone metastasis. In experimental mouse models of skeletal metastasis, administration of the βAR agonist isoproterenol (ISO), used as a surrogate of norepinephrine, the main neurotransmitter of sympathetic neurons, was shown to favor bone colonization of metastatic breast cancer cells via an increase bone marrow vascularity. However, successful extravasation of cancer cells into a distant organ is known to be favored by an activated endothelium, itself stimulated by inflammatory signals. Based on the known association between high sympathetic outflow, the expression of inflammatory cytokines and bone metastasis, we thus asked whether βAR stimulation in osteoblasts may alter the vascular endothelium to favor cancer cell engraftment within the skeleton. To address this question, we used conditioned medium (CM) from PBS or ISO-treated bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) in adhesion assays with bone marrow endothelial cells (BMECs) or the endothelial cell line C166. We found that ISO treatment in differentiated BMSCs led to a robust induction of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). The CM from ISO-treated BMSCs increased the expression of E- and P-selectin in BMECs and the adhesion of human MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells to these cells in short-term static and dynamic adhesion assays, and a blocking antibody against IL-1β, but not IL-6, reduced this effect. Direct IL-1β treatment of BMECs had a similar effect, whereas the impact of IL-6 treatment on the expression of adhesion molecules by BMECs and on the adhesion of cancer cells to BMECs was negligible. Collectively, these in vitro results suggest that in the context of the multicellular and dynamic bone marrow environment, sympathetic activation and subsequent βAR stimulation in osteoblasts may profoundly remodel the density but also the activation status of bone marrow vessels to favor the skeletal engraftment of circulating breast cancer cells.

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β2AR activation in osteoblasts increases the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6.

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IL-1β promotes the adhesion of breast cancer cells to endothelium via an endothelial increase in E- and P-selectin expression.

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IL-1β blockade and selectin inhibition inhibits breast cancer cell adhesion to endothelial cells.

Distress Among Locally Advanced Breast Cancer Patients from Diagnosis to Follow-Up: A Critical Review of Literature

OBJECTIVE

This critical review used a systematic approach to explore the prevalence of distress among locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) patients along their treatment journey. This review explored the domains of distress (psychosocial, physical and/or practical) that are significant to this patient population and determined indications for psychosocial support throughout the patients' treatment.

METHODS

Electronic databases including CINAHL, EmBase, Medline PsycInfo, and gray literature were searched from the year 2000 to 2016, to produce relevant literature. A critical review was conducted on 73 articles meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria. A narrative synopsis was used to summarize the findings under key themes.

RESULTS

The results indicate that 16/73 studies assessed for distress in all three domains of distress throughout the treatment course. A meta-analysis was not possible due to the methodological heterogeneity of the articles, the variation of assessment tools used, timing in which the assessments were done, and the different treatment modalities. Distress was prevalent from the time of diagnosis, through treatment, and into survivorship. Sexuality, body image, age, financial difficulty, family/social support, and informational needs were common themes that emerged among the LABC population in these studies.

CONCLUSIONS

Comprehensive assessments incorporating all three domains of distress with the appropriate tools will assist health care professionals throughout the complicated treatment trajectory of LABC patients in taking a more proactive approach in assisting patients' concerns and preventing undue or increase in psychological distress during or after active treatment. This will encourage effective patient-centered communication and supportive care referrals for a better patient experience.

Effect of one comprehensive education course to lower anxiety and depression among Chinese breast cancer patients during the postoperative radiotherapy period - one randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

We investigated the effectiveness of one education course to lower the severity of anxiety and depression symptoms among breast cancer (BC) patients during radiotherapy (RT).

METHODS

All 290 one-sided BC patients were evenly randomized into intervention or control arm. "Intervention" patient was additionally provided with one three-hour course on psychological stresses and management skills. Changes of anxiety and depression score and their 3-level severity category ('normal', 'borderline' and 'abnormal' scored 0-7, 8-10 and 11-21, respectively) from HADS questionnaire over RT were evaluated by multivariable linear and ordinal logistic regressions.

RESULTS

Response rates were 94 and 100% by "intervention" and "control" arm, respectively. Means of score changes by "intervention" and "control" (n = 145) were + 0.59 (SD = 2.47) and + 0.11 (SD = 2.55) for anxiety and + 0.81 (SD = 2.81) and + 0.45 (SD = 2.77) for depression scores, respectively. 'Abnormal' anxiety and depression patients were 4.1 and 6.9% at baseline and 4.8 and 6.9% at end of RT at 'control' arm; those rates were 6.6 and 7.4%, and 8.8 and 10.3% at 'intervention' arm, respectively. Both changes on anxiety and depression measurements between two arms were all insignificant (p > 0.20).

CONCLUSIONS

One education course did not reduce the score and severity of anxiety and depression symptoms over RT period.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry #: ChiCTR-IIR-16008818 at www.chictr.org.cn .

Neuroimmunology of Behavioral Comorbidities Associated With Cancer and Cancer Treatments

Behavioral comorbidities (depression, anxiety, fatigue, cognitive disturbances, and neuropathic pain) are prevalent in cancer patients and survivors. These mental and neurological health issues reduce quality-of-life, which is a significant societal concern given the increasing rates of long-term survival after various cancers. Hypothesized causes of behavioral comorbidities with cancer include tumor biology, stress associated with the cancer experience, and cancer treatments. A relatively recent leading mechanism by which these causes contribute to changes in neurobiology that underlie behavior is inflammation. Indeed, both basic and clinical research indicates that peripheral inflammation leads to central inflammation and behavioral changes in other illness contexts. Given the limitations of assessing neuroimmunology in clinical populations, this review primarily synthesizes evidence of neuroimmune and neuroinflammatory changes due to two components of cancer (tumor biology and cancer treatments) that are associated with altered affective-like or cognitive behaviors in rodents. Specifically, alterations in microglia, neuroinflammation, and immune trafficking to the brain are compiled in models of tumors, chemotherapy, and/or radiation. Evidence-based neuronal mechanisms by which these neuroimmune changes may lead to changes in behavior are proposed. Finally, converging evidence in clinical cancer populations is discussed.

A Non-randomized Controlled Trial of EMDR on Affective Symptoms in Patients With Glioblastoma Multiforme

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly aggressive brain cancer and its survival after diagnosis is less than 2 years. Therefore, GBM patients are especially prone to co-occurring psychological conditions such as anxiety and depressive disorders. Furthermore, aggressive medical therapies affect patients' lives, undermining their sense of meaning and coherence. The main aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy on anxiety, depression and sense of coherence in patients with GBM. Thirty-seven GBM-diagnosed women were included in this trial and received standard medical care. Of those, 18 patients were treated during 4 months with 10-12 individual EMDR sessions (60-90 minutes each). Nineteen GBM patients were used as a non-randomized control group as they consented to psychological evaluations but not to a psychotherapeutic intervention. The groups were homogeneous in terms of gender, age, educational level and treatment, but not in anxiety and depressive levels at baseline. All patients were evaluated at baseline, after treatment (4 months) and at follow-up (further 4 months) by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-M) and the Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC-29). Caregivers in both groups were interviewed by the Patient Caregiver Questionnaire after 4 months follow-up. Statistical analyses were conducted using ANOVA statistics, correlation and regression analysis. Results showed a statistically significant decrease in the EMDR group in anxiety, depression and anger, when compared to the experimental group. EMDR therapy also had a positive impact upon the sense of coherence level in the experimental group, whereas in the control group this declined. Finally, the caregivers reported beneficial outcomes of the EMDR therapy with less anxiety- and anger-related behaviors in patients in the experimental group compared to the control group. This study is the first to show beneficial effects of EMDR therapy in alleviating affective symptoms and improving coherence in a severe medically ill population with GBM.

First-onset mental disorders after cancer diagnosis and cancer-specific mortality: a nationwide cohort study

Background

The diagnosis of cancer is strongly associated with the risk of mental disorders even in patients with no previous history of mental disorders. Accumulating data suggest that mental distress may accelerate tumor progression. We hypothesized therefore that mental disorders after a cancer diagnosis may increase the risk of cancer-specific mortality.

Patients and methods

We conducted a nationwide cohort study including 244 261 cancer patients diagnosed in Sweden during 2004-2009 and followed them through 2010. Through the Swedish Patient Register, we obtained clinical diagnoses of all mental disorders and focused on mood-, anxiety-, and substance abuse disorders (ICD10: F10-F16, F18-F19, F32-F33, F40-F41, and F43-45) that are commonly diagnosed among patients with cancer. We further classified the studied mental disorders into first-onset or recurrent mental disorders. We used Cox regression to estimate multivariable hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) as a measure of the association between mental disorders after cancer diagnosis and cancer-specific mortality, adjusting for age, sex, calendar period, educational level, cancer stage, and cancer type at diagnosis.

Results

After cancer diagnosis, 11 457 patients were diagnosed with mood-, anxiety-, and substance abuse disorders; of which 7236 were first-onset mental disorders. Patients with a first-onset mental disorder were at increased risk of cancer-specific mortality (HR: 1.82, 95% CI: 1.71-1.92) while patients with a recurrent mental disorder had much lower risk elevation (HR: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.05-1.24). The increased cancer-specific mortality by first-onset mental disorders was observed for almost all cancer sites/groups and the association was stronger for localized cancers (HR: 2.00, 95% CI: 1.73-2.31) than for advanced cancers (HR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.32-1.69).

Conclusions

Patients with a first-onset common mood-, anxiety-, or substance abuse disorder after cancer diagnosis may be at increased risk of cancer-specific death.

Course and predictors of post-traumatic stress disorder in a cohort of psychologically distressed patients with cancer: A 4-year follow-up study

BACKGROUND

Scant evidence exists on the long-term course of cancer-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This is among the few studies worldwide, and the first in the South-East Asian region, to prospectively evaluate PTSD in patients with cancer using gold-standard clinical interviews. The objective of the study was to assess the course and predictors of PTSD in adult patients with cancer in a South-East Asian population.

METHODS

A prospective, longitudinal study was conducted in a cohort of 469 consecutively recruited patients (aged ≥18 years) with various cancer types within 1 month of diagnosis at a single oncology referral center. Only patients who had significant psychological distress (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale total cutoff score ≥16) underwent the PTSD module of the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (SCID) at at 6-months follow-up. All patients completed the SCID at the 4-year follow-up assessment regardless of their initial Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale score.

RESULTS

In an analysis combining patients who had both full and subsyndromal PTSD, there was a 21.7% incidence of PTSD at the 6-month follow-up assessment (n = 44 of 203 SCID-interviewed patients), with rates dropping to 6.1% at the 4-year follow-up assessment (n = 15 of 245 SCID-interviewed patients). Patients with breast cancer (compared with those who had other types of cancer) were 3.68 times less likely to develop PTSD at 6-months, but not at 4-years follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

The overall rates of PTSD decreased with time, but one-third of patients (34.1%) who were initially diagnosed had persistent or worsening PTSD 4 years later. There is a need for early identification of this subset of patients who have cancer with PTSD to design risk-targeted interventions. Cancer 2018;124:406-16. © 2017 American Cancer Society.

Analysis of Tumor Biology to Advance Cancer Health Disparity Research

Cancer mortality rates in the United States continue to decline. Reductions in tobacco use, uptake of preventive measures, adoption of early detection methods, and better treatments have resulted in improved cancer outcomes for men and women. Despite this progress, some population groups continue to experience an excessive cancer burden when compared with other population groups. One of the most prominent cancer health disparities exists in prostate cancer. Prostate cancer mortality rates are highest among men of African ancestry when compared with other men, both in the United States and globally. This disparity and other cancer health disparities are largely explained by differences in access to health care, diet, lifestyle, cultural barriers, and disparate exposures to carcinogens and pathogens. Dietary and lifestyle factors, pathogens, and ancestry-related factors can modify tumor biology and induce a more aggressive disease. There are numerous examples of how environmental exposures, like tobacco, chronic stress, or dietary factors, induce an adverse tumor biology, leading to a more aggressive disease and decreased patient survival. Because of population differences in the exposure to these risk factors, they can be the cause of cancer disparities. In this review, we will summarize recent advances in our understanding of prostate and breast cancer disparities in the United States and discuss how the analysis of tumor biology can advance health disparity research.

A systematic literature review exploring the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder and the role played by stress and traumatic stress in breast cancer diagnosis and trajectory

Stress has been extensively studied as a psychosomatic factor associated with breast cancer. This study aims to review the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), its associated risk factors, the role of predicting factors for its early diagnosis/prevention, the implications for co-treatment, and the potential links by which stress could impact cancer risk, by closely examining the literature on breast cancer survivors. The authors systematically reviewed studies published from 2002 to 2016 pertaining to PTSD, breast cancer and PTSD, and breast cancer and stress. The prevalence of PTSD varies between 0% and 32.3% mainly as regards the disease phase, the stage of disease, and the instruments adopted to detect prevalence. Higher percentages were observed when the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale was administered. In regard to PTSD-associated risk factors, no consensus has been reached to date; younger age, geographic provenance with higher prevalence in the Middle East, and the presence of previous cancer diagnosis in the family or relational background emerged as the only variables that were unanimously found to be associated with higher PTSD prevalence. Type C personality can be considered a risk factor, together with low social support. In light of the impact of PTSD on cognitive, social, work-related, and physical functioning, co-treatment of cancer and PTSD is warranted and a multidisciplinary perspective including specific training for health care professionals in communication and relational issues with PTSD patients is mandatory. However, even though a significant correlation was found between stressful life events and breast cancer incidence, an unequivocal implication of distress in breast cancer is hard to demonstrate. For the future, overcoming the methodological heterogeneity represents one main focus. Efficacy studies could help when evaluating the effect of co-treating breast cancer and post-traumatic stress symptoms, even if all the criteria for a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders diagnosis are not fulfilled.

Chemotherapy and Post-traumatic Stress in the Causation of Cognitive Dysfunction in Breast Cancer Patients

Background

Cancer-related cognitive dysfunction has mostly been attributed to chemotherapy; this explanation, however, fails to account for cognitive dysfunction observed in chemotherapy-naïve patients. In a controlled, longitudinal, multisite study, we tested the hypothesis that cognitive function in breast cancer patients is affected by cancer-related post-traumatic stress.

Methods

Newly diagnosed breast cancer patients and healthy control subjects, age 65 or younger, underwent three assessments within one year, including paper-and-pencil and computerized neuropsychological tests, clinical diagnostics of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and self-reported cognitive function. Analysis of variance was used to compare three groups of participants-patients who did or did not receive chemotherapy and healthy control subjects-on age- and education-corrected cognitive performance and cognitive change. Differences that were statistically significant after correction for false discovery rate were investigated with linear mixed-effects models and mediation models. All statistical tests were two-sided.

Results

Of 226 participants (166 patients and 60 control subjects), 206 completed all assessment sessions (attrition: 8.8%). Patients demonstrated overall cognitive decline (group*time effect on composite z -score: -0.13, P = .04) and scored consistently worse on Go/Nogo errors. The latter effect was mediated by PTSD symptoms (mediation effect: B = 0.15, 95% confidence interval = 0.02 to 0.38). Only chemotherapy patients showed declined reaction time on a computerized alertness test. Overall cognitive performance correlated with self-reported cognitive problems at one year ( T = -0.11, P = .02).

Conclusions

Largely irrespective of chemotherapy, breast cancer patients may encounter very subtle cognitive dysfunction, part of which is mediated by cancer-related post-traumatic stress. Further factors other than treatment side effects remain to be investigated.

Association between social support and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms among Chinese patients with ovarian cancer: A multiple mediation model

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms can develop after person experiences one or more traumatic events. Little research, however, has been done on PTSD symptoms of patients with ovarian cancer. The present study aimed to estimate the prevalence of PTSD symptoms in patients with ovarian cancer in China; the effects of demographic and clinical variables on PTSD symptoms; multiple mediation roles in the association between social support and PTSD symptoms in patients with ovarian cancer in China. We collected demographic and clinical information of patients with ovarian cancer in the first and second hospitals of China Medical University between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2015. Qualified patients were asked to complete the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C), Duke-UNC Functional Social Support Questionnaire, Herth Hope Index (HHI), and Resilience Scale-14 (RS-14). 201 patients provided responses. We performed hierarchical linear regression to assess the correlation between social support and PTSD symptoms and bootstrapping to test the mediating role of hope and resilience as potential mediators. After controlling demographic and clinical characteristics, social support negatively correlated with PTSD symptoms (β = -0.406, P < 0.01). Social support explained 14.7% of the variance in PTSD symptoms. Hope and resilience explained 17.0% of the variance in PTSD symptoms. The proportion of the hope mediating effect was 43.37% for social support and the proportion of the resilience mediating effect was 10.64% for social support. Hope and resilience partly mediated the correlation between social support and PTSD symptoms despite accounting for different proportions of the mediating effect. Future intervention plans should pay more attention to social support as well as hope and resilience to prevent, relieve and treat PTSD symptoms.

Posttraumatic stress disorder after cancer diagnosis in adults: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Since the introduction of serious illness as a potential traumatic stressor in the fourth version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), research on the prevalence and predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after cancer diagnosis has proliferated. Studies have reported widely varying estimates of the number of people with PTSD after cancer. The aim of this review is to synthesize quantitative data from studies reporting the proportion of people with PTSD among groups of cancer survivors.

METHODS

We undertook a diversified literature search strategy and identified 120 samples from 110 sources reporting a proportion of cancer survivors with PTSD. Of these, 11 studies, containing 12 samples, reported estimates of PTSD in cancer survivors compared to matched controls.

RESULTS

A random effects meta-analysis estimated the odds ratio as 1.66 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.09-2.53) for PTSD in cancer survivors compared to controls, although some of this apparent increase may have arisen from publication bias. Factors influencing the reported proportion of a postcancer sample with PTSD included measurement type (clinical interview vs. self-report instrument), type of cancer, type of treatment, geographic region, whether the term "posttraumatic stress" was in the title or abstract, prior trauma, age, and time since diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

PTSD, diagnosed according to DSM-IV criteria, is more common in survivors of cancer than it is in the general population. Estimates of the occurrence of PTSD in patients with a history of cancer depend upon clinical and demographic factors, as well as upon study design.

Post-traumatic stress disorder and cardiometabolic disease: improving causal inference to inform practice

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been declared 'a life sentence' based on evidence that the disorder leads to a host of physical health problems. Some of the strongest empirical research - in terms of methodology and findings - has shown that PTSD predicts higher risk of cardiometabolic diseases, specifically cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Despite mounting evidence, PTSD is not currently acknowledged as a risk factor by cardiovascular or endocrinological medicine. This view is unlikely to change absent compelling evidence that PTSD causally contributes to cardiometabolic disease. This review suggests that with developments in methods for epidemiological research and the rapidly expanding knowledge of the behavioral and biological effects of PTSD the field is poised to provide more definitive answers to questions of causality. First, we discuss methods to improve causal inference using the observational data most often used in studies of PTSD and health, with particular reference to issues of temporality and confounding. Second, we consider recent work linking PTSD with specific behaviors and biological processes, and evaluate whether these may plausibly serve as mechanisms by which PTSD leads to cardiometabolic disease. Third, we evaluate how looking more comprehensively into the PTSD phenotype provides insight into whether specific aspects of PTSD phenomenology are particularly relevant to cardiometabolic disease. Finally, we discuss new areas of research that are feasible and could enhance understanding of the PTSD-cardiometabolic relationship, such as testing whether treatment of PTSD can halt or even reverse the cardiometabolic risk factors causally related to CVD and T2D.

Prevalence of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder among Breast Cancer Patients: A Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Prevalence estimates of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among breast cancer patients varied widely in existing studies. This study aimed to provide an overall prevalence estimate of PTSD among breast cancer patients, and the prevalence estimates related to specific PTSD diagnosis tools.

METHODS

Systematic search of relevant articles was made from seven databases. Freeman-Tukey Double Arcsine Transformation was used to estimate the overall prevalence of PTSD. Sub-group and meta-regression analyses were used to investigate the between-study sources of heterogeneity. Publication bias was examined using Egger's funnel plot and Begg test.

RESULTS

The pooled prevalence of PTSD among breast cancer patients was [9.6%, 95% confidence intervals (95%CI)=7.9-11.5%]. Studies that used Clinician Administered PTSD Scale-Form (CAPS) method alone yielded much higher prevalence (19.0%, 95%CI=13.1-25.5%, n=5) than three or fourth edition Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (SCID) method alone (3.0%, 95%CI= 2.2-3.9%, n=11). Prevalence estimates for studies that used the methods: PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C) cut-off, PCL-C cluster, and Impact of Event Scale (IES) cut-off were (7.0%, 95%CI= 3.9-10.8%, n=10), (11.5%, 95%CI= 8.6-15.6%, n=11) and (15.1%, 95%CI= 12.3-18.2%, n=4), respectively. Heterogeneity between-study was substantial (I² =44.9-92.3%).

CONCLUSION

About 9.6% of the breast cancer patients would develop the PTSD symptoms. Those who were younger, non-Caucasian and recently completed treatment would be at a greater risk of developing PTSD.

Time-dependent risk of depression, anxiety, and stress-related disorders in patients with invasive and in situ breast cancer

Despite concerns about the mental health of breast cancer patients, little is known regarding the temporal risk pattern and risk factors of common mental disorders among these patients. We estimated standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) of depression, anxiety and stress-related disorders in a Swedish nationwide cohort of 40,849 women with invasive and 4,402 women with in situ breast cancer (2001-2010, median follow-up = 4.5 years). The impact of patient, tumor and treatment characteristics was analyzed using flexible parametric survival models in a regional cohort of 7,940 invasive breast cancer patients (2001-2013, median follow-up = 7.5 years). Women with invasive breast cancer showed increased rates of depression, anxiety and stress-related disorders [overall SIR (95% CI) = 1.57 (1.46-1.69), 1.55 (1.43-1.68) and 1.77 (1.60-1.95), respectively]. SIRs were highest shortly after diagnosis, but remained increased up to 5 years. Younger age at diagnosis, comorbidity, higher-grade disease, lymph node involvement and chemotherapy were independently associated with the risk of depression and anxiety in invasive cancer patients, with chemotherapy and higher-grade disease conferring short-term risk only, while comorbidities were mainly associated with late-onset events. No clinical risk factors were identified for stress-related disorders except for a greater risk associated with younger age. Patients with in situ cancer only showed an increased incidence of stress-related disorders during the first 6 months after diagnosis [SIR (95% CI) = 2.76 (1.31-5.79)]. The time-dependent risk profile of invasive cancer patients may guide health care professionals for timely and targeted psycho-oncologic interventions.

Social isolation induces autophagy in the mouse mammary gland: link to increased mammary cancer risk

Social isolation is a strong predictor of early all-cause mortality and consistently increases breast cancer risk in both women and animal models. Because social isolation increases body weight, we compared its effects to those caused by a consumption of obesity-inducing diet (OID) in C57BL/6 mice. Social isolation and OID impaired insulin and glucose sensitivity. In socially isolated, OID-fed mice (I-OID), insulin resistance was linked to reduced Pparg expression and increased neuropeptide Y levels, but in group-housed OID fed mice (G-OID), it was linked to increased leptin and reduced adiponectin levels, indicating that the pathways leading to insulin resistance are different. Carcinogen-induced mammary tumorigenesis was significantly higher in I-OID mice than in the other groups, but cancer risk was also increased in socially isolated, control diet-fed mice (I-C) and G-OID mice compared with that in controls. Unfolded protein response (UPR) signaling (GRP78; IRE1) was upregulated in the mammary glands of OID-fed mice, but not in control diet-fed, socially isolated I-C mice. In contrast, expression of BECLIN1, ATG7 and LC3II were increased, and p62 was downregulated by social isolation, indicating increased autophagy. In the mammary glands of socially isolated mice, but not in G-OID mice, mRNA expressions of p53 and the p53-regulated autophagy inducer Dram1 were upregulated, and nuclear p53 staining was strong. Our findings further indicated that autophagy and tumorigenesis were not increased in Atg7(+/-) mice kept in social isolation and fed OID. Thus, social isolation may increase breast cancer risk by inducing autophagy, independent of changes in body weight.

Identifying expectant parents at risk for psychological distress in response to a confirmed fetal abnormality

The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of psychological distress among expectant women carrying fetuses with prenatal diagnosed abnormalities and their partners. A 2-year retrospective medical chart review was completed of 1032 expectant mothers carrying fetuses with a confirmed anomaly, and 788 expectant fathers, who completed the CFDT Mental Health Screening Tool. Furthermore, 19.3 % of women and 13.1 % of men reported significant post-traumatic stress symptoms, and 14 % of men and 23 % of women scored positive for a major depressive disorder. Higher risk was noted among expectant parents of younger age and minority racial/ethnic status, and women with post-college level education and current or prior use of antidepressant medications. Heightened distress was noted within fetal diagnostic subgroups including neck masses, sacrococcygeal teratomas, neurological defects, and miscellaneous diagnoses. Incorporating screening tools into prenatal practice can help clinicians better identify the potential risk for psychological distress among expectant parents within high-risk fetal settings.

Psychosocial factors related to non-persistence with adjuvant endocrine therapy among women with breast cancer: the Breast Cancer Quality of Care Study (BQUAL)

Non-adherence to adjuvant endocrine therapy (ET) for breast cancer (BC) is common. Our goal was to determine the associations between psychosocial factors and ET non-persistence. We recruited women with BC receiving care in an integrated healthcare system between 2006 and 2010. Using a subset of patients treated with ET, we investigated factors related to ET non-persistence (discontinuation) based on pharmacy records (≥90 days gap). Serial interviews were conducted at baseline and every 6 months. The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT), Medical Outcomes Survey, Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (TSQM), Impact of Events Scale (IES), Interpersonal Processes of Care measure, and Decision-making beliefs and concerns were measured. Multivariate models assessed factors associated with non-persistence. Of the 523 women in our final cohort who initiated ET and had a subsequent evaluation, 94 (18 %) were non-persistent over a 2-year follow-up. The cohort was primarily white (74.4 %), stage 1 (60.6 %), and on an aromatase inhibitor (68.1 %). Women in the highest income category had a lower odds of being non-persistent (OR 0.43, 95 % CI 0.23-0.81). Quality of life and attitudes toward ET at baseline were associated with non-persistence. At follow-up, the FACT, TSQM, and IES were associated with non-persistence (p < 0.001). Most women continued ET. Women who reported a better attitude toward ET, better quality of life, and more treatment satisfaction, were less likely to be non-persistent and those who reported intrusive/avoidant thoughts were more likely to be non-persistent. Interventions to enhance the psychosocial well-being of patients should be evaluated to increase adherence.

Cancer Survivorship and Models of Survivorship Care: A Review

There are over 13 million cancer survivors in the United States. This is heterogenous group in age, cultural background, and cancer history and also in regards to the natural history of their cancer survivorship. There are "seasons of survivorship" including acute, transitional, extended, permanent, and chronic in which the medical and psychosocial problems and needs of cancer survivors change. For example, the medical and psychosocial needs of a testicular cancer survivor who is 1 year beyond diagnosis are very different from the same person 20 years later when the risk of recurrence is very low but the risk of second cancers has risen. This is a review of the "seasons of survivorship." Some of the specific needs of cancer survivors in each phase of survivorship are presented. Models of survivorship care are also reviewed.

Clinically assessed posttraumatic stress in patients with breast cancer during the first year after diagnosis in the prospective, longitudinal, controlled COGNICARES study

OBJECTIVE

There is ongoing debate whether cancer qualifies as traumatic stressor. We investigated prevalence and course of posttraumatic stress in patients with early breast cancer (BC) during their first year after diagnosis and determined effects of mastectomy and chemotherapy.

METHODS

Patients with stage 0-III BC aged ≤65 years were evaluated with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV modules for acute and posttraumatic stress disorder (ASD and PTSD, respectively) before treatment, after chemotherapy, and 1 year after diagnosis. Matched controls were assessed at matched intervals. Effects of time, mastectomy, and chemotherapy on BC-related PTSD symptom severity were tested with linear mixed model analysis.

RESULTS

Stress disorder (ASD or PTSD) related to BC was diagnosed in 6 (3.6%) of 166 patients before treatment and in 3 patients (2.0%) 1 year later. The rate of patients who experienced PTSD symptoms related to BC decreased from 82.5 to 57.3% (p < 0.001), and the mean of BC-related PTSD symptoms diminished from 3.1 to 1.7 (p < 0.001). Only university education significantly predicted the course of BC-related PTSD symptom severity (p = 0.009). In 60 controls, no diagnosis of stress disorder, a rate of 18% women experiencing PTSD symptoms, and a mean of 0.4 PTSD symptoms (p vs. patients <0.001) were found.

CONCLUSIONS

Most newly diagnosed patients with BC experience PTSD symptoms, whereas full diagnoses of DSM-IV stress disorder are rare. Symptoms diminish somewhat within 1 year furthered by university education but independently from mastectomy and chemotherapy. Throughout the year after diagnosis, having BC entails markedly increased PTSD symptom burden. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Assessing activity limitation among cancer survivors in Korea using data from a nationwide survey

BACKGROUND

More than 1 million cancer survivors reside in Korea. We here investigated activity limitations of cancer survivors compared to controls without a history of cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Using the 4th and 5th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007-2012) data, we identified 1,155 adult cancer survivors. Activity limitations were defined as limitation in activities of daily living, experience of lying in a sickbed, and number of days lying in a sickbed during the last month. Descriptive analysis and multiple logistic regression compared these measures for survivors and controls by sex and age groups.

RESULTS

Approximately 29.4% of cancer survivors reported limitation in activities of daily living, 14.6% experienced lying in a sickbed, and 4.3% experienced more than 15 days lying in a sickbed during the last month. After controlling for demographic and health-related factors, cancer survivors were more likely to report activity limitation than controls. The associations were similar across sex and age groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Cancer survivors have increased activity limitation compared to controls and these limitations persist across sex and age. Targeted interventions and improved management are essential for improving cancer survivor daily life.

Posttraumatic stress and depressive symptoms in renal cell carcinoma: association with quality of life and utility of single-item distress screening

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC), the associations and co-occurrence between PTSS, depressive, and other cancer-related symptoms and the ability of a single-item distress question to identify patients with PTSS.

METHODS

Patients with stage I-IV RCC completed assessments of depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale), PTSS (Impact of Event Scale), cancer-related symptoms (MD Anderson Symptom Inventory), fatigue (Brief Fatigue Inventory), and sleep disturbance (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index). We used the distress item on the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory as a distress screener and general linear model analyses to test study hypotheses.

RESULTS

Of the 287 patients (29% stage IV; 42% female; mean age = 58 years), 46% (n = 131) reported psychiatric symptoms with 15% (n = 44) reporting comorbid clinical levels of depressive symptoms and PTSS, 24% (n = 70) PTSS alone, and 6% (n = 17) depressive symptoms alone. Controlling for age, gender, and stage, patients with comorbid depressive symptoms and PTSS reported more cancer-related symptoms (p < 0.0001), fatigue (p < 0.0001), and sleep disturbance (p = 0.0003) than those with PTSS alone and more cancer-related symptoms (p = 0.002) and fatigue (p = 0.09) than those with depressive symptoms alone. Sensitivity analyses revealed that 26.9% of negative cases on the distress item fell within the clinical range of the Impact of Event Scale and 9.3% of negative cases met caseness on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale.

CONCLUSIONS

Posttraumatic stress symptoms occurred both independently and comorbid with depressive symptoms in patients with RCC. PTSS were correlated with overall cancer symptom burden. Single-item distress screening was less sensitive in detecting PTSS than depressive symptoms. Therefore, additional screening strategies are required in the clinical setting.