Prevalence of mental distress among adult survivors of childhood cancer in Germany-Compared to the general population.
Cancer Med
; 8(4): 1865-1874, 2019 04.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-30838816
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Increasing survival rates after childhood cancer have raised the issue of long-term mental health consequences in adulthood. This study determines mental health distress among long-term survivors of pediatric cancer and compares it to control groups.METHODS:
Childhood cancer survivors (CCS; N = 951, aged 24-49 years) were compared to three age-matched control groups from the general population collected at three time points. The study compared the prevalence of clinically relevant symptoms of a wide range of common mental disorders (depression, somatic distress, suicidal ideation, generalized anxiety, panic, social anxiety, and sleep disturbances) using identical, validated questionnaires. CCS were identified by the German Childhood Cancer Registry. Controls were approached by a demographic consultation company (USUMA) which assured that the three samples were nationally representative.RESULTS:
Childhood cancer survivors reported higher education than controls and were less often married. All forms of common mental distress were increased among survivors. Twenty-four percent of male (N = 526) and 41% of female survivors (N = 425) reported some form of clinically relevant mental health symptoms. Somatic distress as the leading complaint was highly frequent among CCS (OR 10.98, CI 95% 7.24-16.64). Complaints by generalized anxiety (OR 5.04, CI 95% 2.61-9.70), panic (OR 3.28, CI 95% 1.60-6.70), depression (OR 3.36, CI 95% 2.22-5.09), and suicidality (OR = 2.22; CI 95% 1.38-3.57) were also strongly increased. Female sex, low education, low income, and unemployment were associated with increased distress.CONCLUSIONS:
Findings indicate a need to integrate psycho-oncological screening and care into long-term aftercare. Somatic distress, as cause and indicator of psychological distress, should receive stronger attention, especially tiredness, low energy, and pain.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Stress, Psychological
/
Cancer Survivors
/
Mental Disorders
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Qualitative_research
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
En
Journal:
Cancer Med
Year:
2019
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Germany