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- Title
Informal caregivers of advanced-stage cancer patients: Every second is at risk for psychiatric morbidity.
- Authors
Rumpold, T.; Schur, S.; Amering, M.; Kirchheiner, K.; Masel, E.; Watzke, H.; Schrank, B.; Masel, E K
- Abstract
<bold>Purpose: </bold>Informal caregivers of advanced cancer patients are known to suffer from high distress due to their caregiving responsibilities. Nevertheless, a comprehensive evaluation of psychiatric morbidity is often missing in clinical practice due to time resources, and mental health problems may be unnoticed in this population. A feasible approach is needed to identify caregivers at risk for psychiatric disorders to offer targeted interventions and enhance their well-being.<bold>Methods: </bold>This cross-sectional, multi-institutional study screened 345 caregivers of advanced cancer patients for psychiatric disorders (i.e., depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, and alcohol abuse/dependence) and assessed factors potentially associated with mental health diagnoses (including socio-demographic factors, burden, hope, caring-related quality of life, and coping preferences).<bold>Results: </bold>Overall, almost 52 % of participants had one or more suspected psychiatric disorders, with anxiety being the most prevalent. Perceived hope, higher burden, and more emotion-oriented coping were associated with psychiatric morbidity in this sample. Spouses and parents showed significantly more symptoms of psychiatric disorders than other relatives.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>This study confirms the high risk of informal caregivers of advanced cancer patients to develop psychiatric disorders and suggests a practically feasible approach to identify at risk caregivers to offer support.
- Subjects
AUSTRALIA; CAREGIVERS; DISTRESS (Psychology) -- Risk factors; CANCER patient care; TERMINAL care; BURDEN of care; MENTAL depression; MENTAL health; PALLIATIVE treatment; DIAGNOSIS of post-traumatic stress disorder; PREVENTION of post-traumatic stress disorder; PREVENTION of psychological stress; TUMOR treatment; TUMORS &; psychology; ADAPTABILITY (Personality); AFFECTIVE disorders; PSYCHOLOGY of caregivers; COMPARATIVE studies; ECONOMIC aspects of diseases; RESEARCH methodology; MEDICAL cooperation; POST-traumatic stress disorder; QUALITY of life; RESEARCH; EVALUATION research; DISEASE prevalence; CROSS-sectional method; DIAGNOSIS; PREVENTION; PSYCHOLOGY
- Publication
Supportive Care in Cancer, 2016, Vol 24, Issue 5, p1975
- ISSN
0941-4355
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1007/s00520-015-2987-z