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Background: This prospective multicenter study aimed to investigate the courses of positive support (PS) and detrimental interaction (DI), two different aspects of social support, and the relation between social support and psychosocial distress and/or health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in a large sample of patients with different cancers. Methods: For this observational study, we enrolled adult patients with cancer from 13 comprehensive cancer centers (CCCs) in Germany. We included a total of 1087 patients in our analysis. We assessed the outcomes via standardized self-report questionnaires at three measurement points: at admission for acute care (T1), 6 (T2) and 12 months (T3) thereafter. Our outcome variables included PS and DI, depression and anxiety symptoms, distress, mental quality of life (MQoL) and physical QoL (PQoL). Data were analyzed using three-level hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) and group-based trajectory modeling. Results: During the first year after the cancer diagnosis, both PS and DI decreased in our sample. Baseline depression symptom severity was a significant predictor of PS and DI. Further analyses revealed significant associations between PS, DI and the course of depression and anxiety symptoms, and MQoL. PS buffered the negative effects of DI with regards to these variables. Low DI was associated with better PQoL, whereas PS was not. In general, the impact of social support on psychosocial outcomes was weak to moderate. Conclusions: Our findings provide evidence for the influence of PS and DI on psychosocial symptoms and HRQOL, and emphasize the importance of psycho-oncological interventions that strengthen PS and prevent or reduce DI for patients with cancer and their relatives.

Objective: The study aimed to assess cancer patients' use of psychological care and its correlates in a large sample of cancer patients in Comprehensive Cancer Centers (CCCs) in Germany., Methods: In a multicenter study in Germany, cancer patients with various diagnoses were evaluated for self-reported use of psychological support. We measured psychological distress, depression and anxiety, quality of life, and social support with standardized questionnaires and analyzed its association with the utilization of psychological care using multivariable logistic regression. This paper focuses on a cross-sectional analysis of the data assessed during inpatient care., Results: Three thousand fifty-four (50%) of hospitalized patients were asked for participation, and n = 1632 (53.6%) participated. We were able to analyze n = 1,398 (45.9%) patients. Three hundred ninety-seven (28.4%) of the sample utilized psychological support. Users of psychological care were significantly younger than nonusers (odds ratio [OR]: 0.967, P < 0.001) and were more often female (OR: 1.878, P < 0.001), whereas educational level was not associated with the use of psychological care. In the multivariable analysis, effects on the use of psychological care were observed for Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) anxiety (OR: 1.106, P = 0.001) and both subscales of the 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) quality of life measure (mental, OR: 0.97, P = 0.002; physical, OR: 0.97, P = 0.002)., Conclusion: Psychological distress and anxiety are higher, and quality of life is lower in users of psychological care in comparison with nonusers during inpatient cancer treatment. Although psychooncological services should be provided to all patients who need them, special efforts should be made to reach populations that report low utilization., (© 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Background: Despite remarkable progress, cancer remains a life-threatening disease for millions of people worldwide, also resulting in significant psychosocial limitations. High-quality, comprehensive cancer care requires patient and family involvement and the provision of needs-based, targeted psychosocial services. Although progress has been made in understanding the occurrence of mental comorbidity and psychosocial distress in cancer patients, comparatively little is known about the course of psychological comorbidity and psychosocial distress in early survivorship among patients and their families. We therefore aim to estimate the prevalence of mental disorders according to the DSM-5, psychosocial distress, perceived needs for psychosocial support and utilization of psychosocial support offers in newly diagnosed cancer patients and their relatives, taking into account potential contributing biopsychosocial factors for the occurrence of psychological comorbidity. Methods/design: This study follows a prospective multi-center observational cohort design across four measurement time points: within 2 months after cancer diagnosis (t1), and in the follow-up period at 6 months (t2), at 12 months (t3), and at 18 months (t4) after t1. Patients older than 18 years who have a confirmed initial diagnosis of a malignant solid tumor and are scheduled for cancer treatment at one of the participating cancer centers are eligible for study participation. Relatives of eligible patients are also eligible for study participation if they are older than 18 years. Patients are interviewed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Disorders (SCID-5-CV). In addition, patients and relatives receive a set of validated questionnaires at each measurement time point, covering comorbid conditions and functional performance, perceived psychological distress and quality of life, partnership aspects and social relationships, supportive care needs and use of psychosocial support services, health literacy, and health behavior and meaning in life. Discussion: This prospective multi-center observational cohort study has a major focus on increasing quality of care and quality of life in cancer survivors through providing rigorous longitudinal data for the development and implementation of target group-specific psychosocial support services. Trial registration: NCT04620564, date of registration 9/11/2020; DKG OnkoZert: Registrier-No.: ST-U134, date of registration 5/11/2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: More than one in 10 cancer patients care for dependent children. It is unclear whether this status makes a difference in terms of the distress and associated problems they experience, or whether it is linked to differences in the need for or utilization of psychosocial support. Methods: Secondary analysis of a cross‐sectional German study in National Comprehensive Cancer Centers using self‐report standardized questionnaires administered to inpatients. Patients living with dependent children (n = 161) were matched by age and sex with a subsample of 161 cancer patients not living with dependent children. The resulting sample was tested for between‐group differences in Distress Thermometer (DT) scores and the corresponding DT Problem List. Additionally, between‐group differences in measures of the need for and utilization of psychosocial support were examined. Results: More than 50% of all patients suffered from clinically relevant distress. Patients living with dependent children reported significantly more practical (p < 0.001, η2p = 0.04), family (p < 0.001, η2p = 0.03), and emotional problems (p < 0.001, η2p = 0.01). Although reporting a greater need for psychological support, parents with cancer were not found to more frequently utilize any type of psychosocial support. Conclusions: The specific problems and needs of parents with cancer who care for dependent children are currently not sufficiently addressed in the clinical care pathways. All families should be helped to establish open and honest communication as well as understand the available support systems and what they can provide. Tailored interventions should be implemented for highly distressed families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite remarkable progress, cancer remains a life-threatening disease for millions of people worldwide, also resulting in significant psychosocial limitations. High-quality, comprehensive cancer care requires patient and family involvement and the provision of needs-based, targeted psychosocial services. Although progress has been made in understanding the occurrence of mental comorbidity and psychosocial distress in cancer patients, comparatively little is known about the course of psychological comorbidity and psychosocial distress in early survivorship among patients and their families. We therefore aim to estimate the prevalence of mental disorders according to the DSM-5, psychosocial distress, perceived needs for psychosocial support and utilization of psychosocial support offers in newly diagnosed cancer patients and their relatives, taking into account potential contributing biopsychosocial factors for the occurrence of psychological comorbidity. Methods/design: This study follows a prospective multi-center observational cohort design across four measurement time points: within 2 months after cancer diagnosis (t1), and in the follow-up period at 6 months (t2), at 12 months (t3), and at 18 months (t4) after t1. Patients older than 18 years who have a confirmed initial diagnosis of a malignant solid tumor and are scheduled for cancer treatment at one of the participating cancer centers are eligible for study participation. Relatives of eligible patients are also eligible for study participation if they are older than 18 years. Patients are interviewed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Disorders (SCID-5-CV). In addition, patients and relatives receive a set of validated questionnaires at each measurement time point, covering comorbid conditions and functional performance, perceived psychological distress and quality of life, partnership aspects and social relationships, supportive care needs and use of psychosocial support services, health literacy, and health behavior and meaning in life. Discussion: This prospective multi-center observational cohort study has a major focus on increasing quality of care and quality of life in cancer survivors through providing rigorous longitudinal data for the development and implementation of target group-specific psychosocial support services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We aimed to examine the efficacy of two psycho-oncological interventions in anxiety, depression, and self-perceived as well as physiological stress in inpatients with gynaecological cancer. Methods: Forty-five women were included in the trial. Thirty-five were categorized as being at high risk of anxiety and depression, and were randomized to either a single psycho-oncological therapy session or a single-session relaxation intervention. Results: A significant decrease in anxiety [mean (t0) = 12, mean (t1) = 7.47, p = 0.001] and depression [mean (t0) = 9.71, mean (t1) = 6.35, p < 0.001] was observed in the psycho-oncological intervention group. In the relaxation group, anxiety also significantly decreased [mean (t0) = 11.67, mean (t1) = 8.22, p = 0.003], whereas depression did not. A comparative analysis of both interventions showed a trend in favour of psycho-oncological therapy for the treatment of depression (F = 3.3, p = 0.078). However, self-reported stress (p = 0.031) and different objective stress parameters only significantly decreased in the relaxation group. Conclusions: Psycho-oncological interventions should represent an essential part of interdisciplinary care for gynaecological cancer patients. Both types of intervention may reduce anxiety. However, the single psycho-oncological therapy session might be slightly more effective in treating depression, whereas the single-session relaxation intervention seems to have a stronger effect on physiological stress parameters. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Anxiety and depression are the two most frequent comorbidities of tumour patients. At present, it is unclear to which degree a patient’s psychological condition can be altered during the treatment period and if psycho-oncological support positively affects a patient’s psychological condition. Methods: In a random sample analyses, 131 patients beginning inpatient treatment at a hospital specialising in surgical oncology were either classified as ‘low-risk’ or ‘high-risk’, according to the HADS. Patients from both categories were then randomly placed in either a low-threshold ‘intervention’ group or an ‘observation’ group. Anxiety and depression levels were measured again with the HADS scale prior to the patients discharge from the department of surgical oncology, and at a follow up 12months after. Results: Our findings showed a significant reduction of anxiety and depression in the high-risk patients who had undergone psycho-oncological intervention at the end of inpatient care and even a year after discharge from the hospital. The effects of psychological intervention could be observed in terms of anxiety and depression in the group of high-risk patients during the hospital stay. In the other three groups, no statistically significant changes could be measured. Conclusion: Cancer patients on a surgical ward benefit from psycho-oncological support especially at an early stage of therapy but also over a long time after discharge from the hospital. The aim of all interventions should be to decrease psychological distress and disorders and thereby improve the quality of life for cancer patients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The objective of this study was to gain a better understanding of cancer patients' preexisting knowledge, expectations and concerns towards peer support programs. Data were collected and analyzed in 51 patients using a standardized short interview and content analysis. Only 37% of the patients claimed to know peer support programs, and half of these regularly attended a support group. Forty-seven percent of the patients who did not know these programs showed a general interest. Reasons for attending a support group were primarily the exchange with other patients (18% of all statements), obtaining information about disease and treatment (10%) and receiving emotional support (9%). The main argument against participation was the fear of suffering when confronted with problems of others (21%). Utilization may be increased if volunteers and health care practitioners give patients more detailed information about the various offers of peer support. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]