Understanding the Factors Related to Trauma-Induced Stress in Cancer Patients: A National Study of 17 Cancer Centers.

Matthew R Moore,Tamara Cadet,Laura Dietzen,Tina Harralson,Cindy Davis

doi:10.3390/ijerph18147600

Abstract

Objective: Posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), defined as continued trauma, has been found to negatively impact mental and physical health. Many cancer centers routinely assess level of psychological distress but assessment of symptoms related to PTSS is less routine. Understanding the mechanisms by which psychological distress results in, or influences, PTSS will aid in developing protocols to more effectively identify PTSS in cancer patients. Methods: Survey data were analyzed from intake data at 17 cancer centers across the U.S. Patients reported distress ratings on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Distress Thermometer (DT), responded to questions related to intrusive cognitive symptoms of PTSS and provided information about current symptoms and social support systems. Hypotheses were tested using a conditional process model, and paths were provided for direct and indirect effects, including moderation and mediated moderation. Results: Findings indicated that, while distress scores were influential in the total model, the direct effect of distress on intrusive cognitive symptoms of PTSS was negated by the model’s indirect effects. The effects of social support and older age were independent protective factors, and there was a moderation effect that varied across groups. Lastly, physical cancer symptoms as a mediating variable further explained the relationship between psychological distress and intrusive cognitive symptoms of PTSS. Conclusions: Study results provide evidence for a potential mechanism by which distress relates to intrusive cognitive symptoms of PTSS. Furthermore, findings suggest that older age and social support may be protective factors for certain groups and risk factors for others. This study provides formative data for potential next steps that could lead to improvements in routine psychosocial screenings in cancer treatment settings.

Highlights

Cancer diagnosis and treatment is a stressful process, with effects that have been compared to those seen in individuals who have experienced active combat exposure [1,2].In response to these stressors, cancer patients and caregivers frequently contend with severe psychological distress, as well as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) [3]
Findings from the conditional process model indicated that increased levels of distress are predictive of intrusive cognitive symptoms of PTSS, but that this relationship may be a function of physical symptoms
The combined moderation effect of these variables on the relationship between distress and intrusive cognitive symptoms of PTSS achieved an increase in intrusive cognitive symptoms of PTSS for older adults with higher levels of social support

Summary

Introduction

Cancer diagnosis and treatment is a stressful process, with effects that have been compared to those seen in individuals who have experienced active combat exposure [1,2]. In response to these stressors, cancer patients and caregivers frequently contend with severe psychological distress, as well as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) [3]. PTSS refers to the symptoms associated with a traumatic experience; whereas, PTSD is a psychiatric disorder that involves more severe and chronic symptoms related to a traumatic experience. PTSS is a continuous response due to traumatic events and occurs due to chronic stress.

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