Preoccupation with death as predictor of psychological distress in patients with haematologic malignancies.
Eur J Cancer Care (Engl)
; 20(3): 403-11, 2011 May.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-20597956
ABSTRACT
The purpose of the present study was to identify preoccupation with death in relation to levels of psychological distress in patients with haematologic malignancies. One hundred and two inpatients with haematologic malignancies, treated with curative intent, and thirty-three control inpatients with benign dysfunction participated in the present study. Psychological distress was measured with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Freiburg Questionnaire of Coping with Illness. Preoccupation with death was assessed with the Subjective Estimation of Sickness and Death Scale. Patients with haematologic malignancies had significantly more preoccupation with death than the control group. In patients with haematologic malignancies preoccupation with death was related to depressive coping style as well as symptoms of depression and anxiety; regression analyses reveal that the diagnosis of haematologic malignancy leads to stronger subjective feelings of being close to death, which in turn leads to more psychological distress. To the best of our knowledge this is the first study that quantitatively shows the existence of preoccupation with death in patients with haematologic malignancies and its association with psychological distress. Our findings indicate that patients who are treated with a curative regime need psychological intervention focusing on death-related fear in order to prevent severe emotional distress.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Estresse Psicológico
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Atitude Frente a Morte
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Neoplasias Hematológicas
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
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Qualitative_research
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Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adolescent
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Adult
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Aged
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2011
Tipo de documento:
Article