Psychological distress predicts quality of life in the first months of cancer diagnosis in cancer caregivers.

In cancer caregivers, anxiety and depression may negatively impact quality of life. Information regarding correlations and the predictive capacity of anxiety and depression with regard to the domains of quality of life of caregivers 6 months after a patient's cancer diagnosis is sparse. Sixty-seven caregivers of cancer patients were recruited and completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) 30-45 days (T1) and 180-200 days (T2) after diagnosis. Depression and anxiety (T1) correlated with quality of life in terms of general health, vitality, social functioning, as well as role limitations due to emotional problems, and mental health (T2). Depression scores at T1 predicted general health, vitality, social functioning, role limitations due to emotional problems and mental health. Although these results are interesting, it must be noted that the sample size was somewhat limited and that the patients' cancer types may have influenced the results obtained. Psychological distress, particularly depression, correlated with and acted as a predictor for changes in the different domains of quality of life, highlighting the relevance of the evaluation of psychological distress in cancer caregivers shortly after cancer diagnosis. These results underscore the importance of differentiating between the different domains in the evaluation of impairments of quality of life in cancer caregivers.

Anxiety, depression and quality of life: a longitudinal study involving cancer patient-caregiver dyads.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to analyse the relationships between anxiety, depression and quality of life in cancer patient-caregiver dyads during the first 6 months after the diagnosis using the actor-partner interdependence model (APIM). PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE: Sixty-seven cancer patient-caregiver dyads completed the following questionnaires in a prospective longitudinal design, with two assessment points at a 6month interval, T1 (45-60) and T2 (180-200 days after diagnosis): the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Short Form Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36). Descriptive statistics, t-test and bivariate correlations were applied. The APIM was used to analyse the influence of anxiety and depression (T1) on own (actor effect) and partner (partner effect) quality of life in T2. RESULTS: The results did not reveal any differences between T1 and T2 in anxiety and depression in caregivers and patients. Assessing the differences between T1 and T2 with respect to quality of life, the caregiver results showed an improvement in physical functioning and bodily pain, but lower social functioning and mental health scores. For patients, significantly lower scores were observed in general health and vitality scores. Dyadic analysis showed an actor effect of anxiety and depression on most of the quality of life domains and a partner effect in caregiver depression (T1) and general health in patients (T2). CONCLUSIONS: The early assessment of anxiety and depression may help to prevent declines in quality of life in the first few months following a diagnosis of cancer in patient-caregiver dyads.

The influence of family social support on quality of life of informal caregivers of cancer patients.

AIM: Caregivers of cancer patients are at high risk of experiencing impairments in terms of anxiety, depression and quality of life. This study examines the mediation capacity that perceived emotional support can have after diagnosis and six months later between depression and anxiety after diagnosis and quality of life in informal caregivers of cancer patients. DESIGN: A sample of 67 informal caregivers of cancer patients was used. This study is longitudinal, ex post facto prospective, with convenience sampling. METHODS: Participants completed the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form (SF-36), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Berlin Social Support Scale (BSSS) and a sociodemographic questionnaire. Data were collected between March 2017 and November 2018. RESULTS: Spearman's correlation analysis showed that anxiety, depression and perceived emotional support were related to quality of life. The mediation analysis showed that the relationship between depression after diagnosis and quality of life six months later was mediated by perceived emotional support.

Effects of A Concentrate Rich in Agro-Industrial By-Products on Productivity Results, Carcass Characteristics and Meat Quality Traits of Finishing Heifers.

Finishing diets in intensive beef production systems are mainly based on cereals, which does not take advantage of the capacity of the ruminant digestive system to digest fibrous feeds, cannot be considered sustainable and does not contribute to the circular bioeconomy. Our aim was to investigate the effects of an alternative concentrate rich in agro-industrial by-products for finishing crossbred Limousine heifers. Four pens with 12 heifers and four pens with 13 heifers were randomly allocated to one of two treatments: control (CON), a commercial concentrate with a 43.3% cereal composition, and alternative (ALT), a concentrate with a composition of 26% cereals and up to 73.5% agro-industrial by-products. Growth performance data were collected along the 91 days of the experimental period. Carcass characteristics were collected after slaughter and 24 h later. Vacuum-packaged samples from longissimus muscle were aged for 7, 21 or 28 days to study meat quality traits. Feed intake was higher and feed conversion rate was lower in the ALT treatment, but no differences were found in average daily gain and feeding costs. Treatment had no effects on any of the measured carcass traits (grading, hot and cold carcass weight, dressing out, chilling losses, subcutaneous fat depth, pH, temperature and lean and fat colour) nor on the meat quality traits (drip loss, cooking loss, shear force, oxidative stability, chromatic indices and pigment contents). Ageing time decreased drip loss and shear force, increased lightness and did not affect redness or surface colour stability. In conclusion, feeding crossbred Limousine heifers a finishing diet rich in agro-industrial by-products did not have any negative effects on performance, carcass and meat quality traits, which might be considered positive from the point of view of sustainability of beef production. Under the conditions assayed, ageing for 21 and 28 days improved tenderness of meat, without detrimental effects on oxidative stability or traits related to visual acceptability.

Caregiver Burden Domains and Their Relationship with Anxiety and Depression in the First Six Months of Cancer Diagnosis.

Cancer caregiving is associated with burden and a poor psychological state. However, there is no previous information about the predictive utility of specific burden domains on anxiety and depression in the first six months after a partner's cancer diagnosis. In a longitudinal study, 67 caregivers completed the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) at T1 (45-60 days after diagnosis) and T2 (180-200 days after diagnosis). Most of the caregivers were female (65.7%, mean age = 51.63, SD = 13.25), while patients were mostly male (56.7%). The TRIPOD checklist was applied. ZBI scores were moderate and HADS anxiety reached significant values. There were no differences in ZBI and HADS between T1 and T2. The relationship between burden, anxiety, and depression were more consistent at T2, while emotional burden at T1 were related and predicted anxiety and depression at T2. Some burden domains were related and predicted anxiety in caregivers in the first six months after partner cancer diagnosis. This information could be useful to prevent the onset of these symptoms in the first six months after diagnosis.

Social support as predictor of anxiety and depression in cancer caregivers six months after cancer diagnosis: A longitudinal study.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To establish the predictive utility of specific social support domains for emotional well-being in cancer caregivers, six months after their partner's cancer diagnosis. BACKGROUND: In cancer caregivers, social support has been consistently related to anxiety and depression. There is little information, however, about the predictive utility of specific social support domains for psychological well-being in the first six months after a partner's cancer diagnosis. DESIGN: Longitudinal research study. METHODS: Sixty-seven caregivers of recently diagnosed cancer patients were recruited from the Reina Sofia University Hospital in Cordoba (Spain). Participants completed a set of questionnaires including the Berlin Social Support Scale (BSSS), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and a socio-demographic questionnaire. Data were collected at two time points: T1 (30-45 days after diagnosis) and T2 (180-200 days after). TRIPOD checklist was used. RESULTS: Most of the caregivers were female (65%) and the partner of the patient (58%), with an average age of 51.63 years (SD = 13.25). Statistical differences were observed between the two assessment points for the social support domains of perceived emotional support, satisfaction with support and protective buffering. Logistic regression analysis showed that less physical and sports activity, more support seeking and less informational support received at T1 predicted anxiety at T2, while less perceived available support predicted depression. CONCLUSIONS: Accurate information and support from other members of the community and the promotion of physical and sports routines for cancer caregivers may help to alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression in the first months after a partner's cancer diagnosis. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Clinicians must pay attention to the social support needs and physical activity of caregivers in the first days after diagnosis, in order to prevent anxiety and depression.

Religiousness and spirituality in patients with bipolar disorder.

BACKGROUND: Religiousness and spirituality (R/S) are often neglected features among psychiatric patients but important both for quality of life and coping strategies for mental disorders. In patients affected by bipolar disorder (BD), R/S can sometimes be confused with symptoms related to the psychiatric disorder. This study aimed to perform a clinical review of the relationship between R/S and BD. METHODS: Data sources included Medline (OvidSP), CINAHL (Ebsco), EMBASE (Ovid), PsychINFO (Ebsco), Angeline, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and Database of Abstract of Reviews of Effects, searching for pertinent Keywords: 'religiousness', 'spirituality' and 'bipolar disorder'. RESULTS: Nine works were found but only five used homogeneous samples with BD patients. R/S were important when facing symptoms and relapses in the lifeworld. These beliefs influenced the relationship with psychiatrists and spiritual figures of reference. CONCLUSIONS: R/S play a role as a psychosocial variable in the course of BD. However, the hypothesis that the R/S factor can be relevant both in terms of providing a protective effect as well as a provocative element in depressive or hypomanic phases was not fully supported at the moment.