Search

BackgroundStigma is an important psychological concept that is being studied in many diseases. However, there have been few studies on stigma in renal dialysis patients in China. This study aimed to investigate the level of stigma and its potential influencing factors among Chinese renal dialysis patients.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among renal dialysis patients in two Chinese dialysis centers between April 2022 and July 2022. Two hundred four renal kidney patients were interviewed with a questionnaire on demographic variables using the Social Impact Scale (SIS), Resilience Scale-14 (RS-14), Herth Hope Index(HHI), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), Revised Life Orientation Test(LOT-R), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-4) and Fear of Progression (FoP). T-test/univariate one-way ANOVA, Pearson’s R, and hierarchical linear regression analysis were used to investigate the factors that influence stigma.ResultsRenal dialysis patients in China experienced a moderate level of stigma (52.36 ± 8.16). Stigma was negatively correlated with resilience, hope, and perceived social support, whereas it was positively associated with perceived stress and fear of progression. However, it showed no significant relationship between optimism and stigma. Hierarchical linear regression analysis showed that hope (β = -0.318, P < 0.001), social support (β = -0.193, P < 0.01), perceived stress (β = 0.197, P < 0.01), and fear of progression (β = 199, P < 0.01) were found to be associated with stigma among the renal dialysis patients. All four variables in the model could explain 34.6% of the variance in stigma among renal dialysis patients in China.ConclusionAccording to this study, renal dialysis patients in China face a moderate level of stigma. Stigma was found to be negatively related to hope and social support but positively associated with perceived stress and fear of progression. Future research on the stigma of renal dialysis patients should include hope-based interventions, proper and specific social support strategies, stress management interventions, and more disease-related information.

Background: The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic causes great disruption to cancer care services, which might bring about psychological problems and further lower both physical and mental life quality in cancer patients. Until now, very few studies focused on the psychological distress of patients with advanced melanoma before or during the epidemic. This study aimed to elucidate the fear of progression (FoP), anxiety, depression, and related independent predictors in patients with advanced melanoma during the COVID-19 outbreak. Methods: Two hundred and seventy-three patients with unresectable stage III or metastatic melanoma were recruited from February 2020 to November 2021, and completed the Fear of Progression Questionnaire-Short Form (FoP-Q-SF), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-6), and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Results: One hundred and seventy-four (64.7%) patients experienced heighted FoP (FoP-Q-SF: 39.9 ± 11.0), 198 (72.5%) patients reported elevated anxiety (STAI-6: 13.1 ± 3.0), and 62 (22.7%) patients had increased depression (PHQ-9: 6.4 ± 6.1). In multivariate analysis, illness duration (OR = 0.987 for FoP; OR = 0.984 for depression), cancer stage (OR = 14.394 for anxiety) and disease progression (OR = 1.960 for FoP; OR = 23.235 for anxiety; OR = 1.930 for depression) were independent predictors for FoP, anxiety or depression. Additionally, the high levels of FoP, anxiety and depression were significantly positive correlated with each other (r = 0.466 for FoP and anxiety; r = 0.382 for FoP and depression; r = 0.309 for anxiety and depression). Conclusion: Our study indicates that FoP, anxiety and depression are persisting among patients with advanced melanoma in the COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 era. Effective psycho-oncological interventions are needed for melanoma patients with psychological distress during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: While much research attention has been paid to anxiety and depression in people who have had a recent cardiac event, relatively little has focused on the broader concept of cardiac distress. Cardiac distress is a multidimensional construct that incorporates but extends beyond common mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. In the present study we assessed the prevalence, severity and predictors of a broad range of physical, affective, cognitive, behavioral and social symptoms of cardiac distress. This is the first study to investigate cardiac distress in this comprehensive way. Method: A sample of 194 patients was recruited from two hospitals in Australia. Eligible participants were those who had recently been hospitalized for an acute cardiac event. Data were collected at patients' outpatient clinic appointment ~8 weeks after their hospital discharge. Using a questionnaire developed through a protocol-driven 3-step process, participants reported on whether they had experienced each of 74 issues and concerns in the past 4 weeks, and the associated level of distress. They also provided sociodemographic and medical information. Regression analyses were used to identify risk factors for elevated distress. Results: Across the 74 issues and concerns, prevalence ratings ranged from a high of 66% to a low of 6%. The most commonly endorsed items were within the domains of dealing with symptoms, fear of the future, negative affect, and social isolation. Common experiences were "being physically restricted" (66%), "lacking energy" (60%), "being short of breath" (60%), "thinking I will never be the same again" (57%), and "not sleeping well" (51%). While less prevalent, "not having access to the health care I need," "being concerned about my capacity for sexual activity," and "being unsupported by family and friends" were reported as highly distressing (74, 64, and 62%) for those experiencing these issues. Having a mental health history and current financial strain were key risk factors for elevated distress. Conclusion and Implications: Specific experiences of distress appear to be highly prevalent in people who have had a recent cardiac event. Understanding these specific fears, worries and stressors has important implications for the identification and management of post-event mental health and, in turn, for supporting patients in their post-event cardiac recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundThe novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic causes great disruption to cancer care services, which might bring about psychological problems and further lower both physical and mental life quality in cancer patients. Until now, very few studies focused on the psychological distress of patients with advanced melanoma before or during the epidemic. This study aimed to elucidate the fear of progression (FoP), anxiety, depression, and related independent predictors in patients with advanced melanoma during the COVID-19 outbreak.MethodsTwo hundred and seventy-three patients with unresectable stage III or metastatic melanoma were recruited from February 2020 to November 2021, and completed the Fear of Progression Questionnaire-Short Form (FoP-Q-SF), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-6), and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9).ResultsOne hundred and seventy-four (64.7%) patients experienced heighted FoP (FoP-Q-SF: 39.9 ± 11.0), 198 (72.5%) patients reported elevated anxiety (STAI-6: 13.1 ± 3.0), and 62 (22.7%) patients had increased depression (PHQ-9: 6.4 ± 6.1). In multivariate analysis, illness duration (OR = 0.987 for FoP; OR = 0.984 for depression), cancer stage (OR = 14.394 for anxiety) and disease progression (OR = 1.960 for FoP; OR = 23.235 for anxiety; OR = 1.930 for depression) were independent predictors for FoP, anxiety or depression. Additionally, the high levels of FoP, anxiety and depression were significantly positive correlated with each other (r = 0.466 for FoP and anxiety; r = 0.382 for FoP and depression; r = 0.309 for anxiety and depression).ConclusionOur study indicates that FoP, anxiety and depression are persisting among patients with advanced melanoma in the COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 era. Effective psycho-oncological interventions are needed for melanoma patients with psychological distress during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

IntroductionWhile much research attention has been paid to anxiety and depression in people who have had a recent cardiac event, relatively little has focused on the broader concept of cardiac distress. Cardiac distress is a multidimensional construct that incorporates but extends beyond common mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. In the present study we assessed the prevalence, severity and predictors of a broad range of physical, affective, cognitive, behavioral and social symptoms of cardiac distress. This is the first study to investigate cardiac distress in this comprehensive way.MethodA sample of 194 patients was recruited from two hospitals in Australia. Eligible participants were those who had recently been hospitalized for an acute cardiac event. Data were collected at patients' outpatient clinic appointment ~8 weeks after their hospital discharge. Using a questionnaire developed through a protocol-driven 3-step process, participants reported on whether they had experienced each of 74 issues and concerns in the past 4 weeks, and the associated level of distress. They also provided sociodemographic and medical information. Regression analyses were used to identify risk factors for elevated distress.ResultsAcross the 74 issues and concerns, prevalence ratings ranged from a high of 66% to a low of 6%. The most commonly endorsed items were within the domains of dealing with symptoms, fear of the future, negative affect, and social isolation. Common experiences were “being physically restricted” (66%), “lacking energy” (60%), “being short of breath” (60%), “thinking I will never be the same again” (57%), and “not sleeping well” (51%). While less prevalent, “not having access to the health care I need,” “being concerned about my capacity for sexual activity,” and “being unsupported by family and friends” were reported as highly distressing (74, 64, and 62%) for those experiencing these issues. Having a mental health history and current financial strain were key risk factors for elevated distress.Conclusion and ImplicationsSpecific experiences of distress appear to be highly prevalent in people who have had a recent cardiac event. Understanding these specific fears, worries and stressors has important implications for the identification and management of post-event mental health and, in turn, for supporting patients in their post-event cardiac recovery.

Objectives: The concept of defense mechanisms has undergone extensive revision and expansion since Freud first described these processes. Initially formulated as an unconscious repression of unpleasant memories, with further development focusing on the role of defense mechanisms in the regulation of internal conflicts, the concept shifted and evolved to incorporate the adaptation to external demands, including intrapsychic and interpersonal handling of burden of illness. In addition to defense mechanisms, coping provides another perspective on human adjustment to difficult life events. While there is substantial research on both coping and defense mechanisms in various psychiatric and somatic diseases, including cancer, little is known about defensive regulation, coping, and their interaction in male breast cancer patients.Methods: The present study is part of the N-Male project conducted between 2016 and 2018 in Germany (Male breast cancer: patients' needs in prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and follow-up care). Semi-standardized interviews with 27 male breast cancer patients were analyzed with regard to defense mechanisms. In addition, fear of progression and repressive coping was assessed by self-report.Results: There was considerable variety in levels of defensive functioning as well as repressive coping in our sample. We found no difference in overall levels of defensive functioning between men with vs. without repressive coping. However, patients with repressive coping demonstrated a decopupled association between fear of progression and defensive functioning as compared to patients without repressive coping.Discussion: The study provides the first evidence of disease processing in male breast cancer patients Knowledge of patients' defense patterns and repressive coping seems promising for better planning targeted intervention strategies.