The long-term impact of cancer: Evaluating psychological distress in adolescent and young adult cancer survivors in Switzerland.

Michel, Gisela; François, Constanza; Harju, Erika; Dehler, Silvia; Roser, Katharina (2019). The long-term impact of cancer: Evaluating psychological distress in adolescent and young adult cancer survivors in Switzerland. Psycho-oncology, 28(3), pp. 577-585. Wiley-Blackwell 10.1002/pon.4981

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OBJECTIVES

Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) are diagnosed with cancer during a critical life period full of psychosocial challenges. They may experience a significant impact of the cancer diagnosis on their psychological health, also in the long term. We aimed to (a) evaluate psychological distress in AYA cancer survivors and compare levels of distress with controls and (b) describe socio-demographic and cancer-related characteristics associated with psychological distress.

METHODS

We sent a questionnaire to AYA cancer survivors (aged 16-25 y at diagnosis, survived ≥5 y) registered in the Cancer Registry Zurich and Zug, Switzerland. Psychological distress was measured using the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18) assessing anxiety, depression, and somatization and a global severity index (GSI) (cutoff score indicating psychological distress: T ≥ 57). Distress levels were compared between survivors and controls. We used logistic regression to determine associations of socio-demographic and cancer-related characteristics with distress.

RESULTS

Of 160 AYA cancer survivors, 34 (21%) reported being distressed (27% in women, 17% in men; P = 0.129). Compared with controls, survivors did not report higher levels of distress (all P values > 0.05). Survivors with migration background and survivors with late effects reported higher levels on GSI, somatization, and anxiety. Higher levels of depression were associated with being female, not being in a partnership, and having late effects.

CONCLUSIONS

A substantial subgroup of AYA cancer survivors reported psychological distress. Systematically screening for distress and providing psychological follow-up for survivors at risk may help to provide adequate psychological support.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Pre-clinic Human Medicine > Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM)

UniBE Contributor:

Michel, Gisela

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health
300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology > 360 Social problems & social services

ISSN:

1057-9249

Publisher:

Wiley-Blackwell

Funders:

[4] Swiss National Science Foundation

Language:

English

Submitter:

Andrea Flükiger-Flückiger

Date Deposited:

25 Feb 2020 15:59

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 15:36

Publisher DOI:

10.1002/pon.4981

PubMed ID:

30636177

Uncontrolled Keywords:

BSI-18 Switzerland adolescents and young adults cancer oncology psychological distress survivor

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.140705

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/140705

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