Article
Fear of progression in patients with new diagnosed brain tumours and their caregivers
Progredienzangst bei Patienten mit neu diagnostizierten Hirntumoren und ihren Angehörigen
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Authors
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Marion Rapp
- Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Neurochirurgie, Düsseldorf, Deutschland
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Anna Kisic
- Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Klinisches Institut für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Düsseldorf, Deutschland
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Caterina Quente
- Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Neurochirurgie, Düsseldorf, Deutschland
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Marcel Alexander Kamp
- Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Neurochirurgie, Düsseldorf, Deutschland
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Michael Sabel
- Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Neurochirurgie, Düsseldorf, Deutschland
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Peter Pilcher
- Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Klinisches Institut für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Düsseldorf, Deutschland
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Andre Karger
- Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Klinisches Institut für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Düsseldorf, Deutschland
| Published: | June 26, 2020 |
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Outline
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Objective: Despite therapeutic progress resulting in increased survival data, tumor recurrence is expected in all patients which is known by them as well as their caregivers. Fear of progression (FoP) refers to specific anxiety or concern about the recurrence or progression of cancer. Moderate to severe FoP are reported in 49% of patients and affects their QoL and social functioning. A correlation between FoP and increased incidence of anxiety, fatigue or pain and increased use of the health system has already been reported. Caregivers are also at risk for psychological distress. But less in known about FoP in brain tumor patients and the impact of cancer on their caregivers.
Methods: Since July 2019 consecutively all patients (N = 82) with a new diagnosis of brain tumor and their caregivers were asked to participate in a survey. Patients and their caregivers were assessed for FoP (Progression Anxiety-Questionnaire), anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, HADS), psychological distress (Distress Thermometer, (DT). Quality of life was assessed using the EORTC-QLQ-C30 and -B20. Psychological burden of patients and caregivers and group differences were calculated.
Results: 30 patients (age: M = 54.53, range 22-76) and their caregivers (age: M = 54.47, range = 18-85) could be included. Regarding DT caregivers (M = 5.43, SD = 2.80) have a significant higher distress level than patients (M = 7.23, SD = 2.38; p = .016). This was reflected in the HADS results, where caregivers expressed significantly higher levels of anxiety (M = 10.10, SD = 4.59) and FoP (M = 35.57, SD = 8.59) compared with patients (anxiety: M = 6.73, SD = 5.08, p = .004; FoP: M = 30.43, SD = 12.68; p = .001). A significant correlation between the patients’ and caregivers’ expression of FoP (p = .001) was demonstrated: The higher the patient’s expression, the higher the caregivers’.
Conclusion: Our first analysis clearly demonstrates a higher psychological burden for caregivers of brain tumor patients in relation to the patients and a positive correlation of patients and caregivers levels of FoP. These data underline the importance to offer further psychooncological support not only for the patients but also for the caregivers in the early phase of tumor therapy.
