bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Doctor‐patient communication and subsequent mental health in women with gynaecological cancer
Authors: Paraskevaidis E. , Kitchener H. C. , Walker L. G. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractA total of 117 women attending a gynaecological oncology follow‐up clinic completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Courtauld Emotional Control Scale (CECS) and a 72‐item ad hoc questionnaire designed to assess their evaluation of doctor‐patient communication and the perceived impact of diagnosis and treatment. Women who were anxious and/or depressed at follow‐up were more critical of doctor—patient interaction, particularly regarding the amount of information given. Young women, and married or widowed women, had more emotional difficulties and needs, as did those who had had a long remission. Although 47% of the women reported being too shocked to take in details at the time the diagnosis was confirmed, only 3% felt that they had been given too much information at that time and 23% would have preferred more information. During the ensuing month, 39% would have liked further information although 21% did not wish this. In many cases, therefore, there is a need for repeated information giving consultations. Routine use of HADS and CECS may help the clinician to identify and monitor patients most at risk of psychological problems.
The adjustment of siblings of pediatric cancer patients—a sibling and parent perspective
Authors: Breyer Joanna , Kunin Howard , Kalish Leslie A. , Patenaude Andrea Farkas 
Published: February 2007

AbstractA total of 73 siblings of pediatric cancer patients and their parents completed a questionnaire about the siblings' reactions to the illness of their brother or sister. Descriptive information was obtained about the reactions, stresses, relationships, communication and behavior of the healthy sibling. From this data and from case examples, specific impressions emerged with treatment and research implications. These included the importance of the involvement of the healthy sibling with the ill siblings' treatment and the importance of assessing family interaction style to facilitate effective clinical interventions. Suggestions about direction for future empirical studies were made.
Psychosocial counseling of cancer patients by telephone: A brief note on patient acceptance of an outcall strategy
Authors: Marcus Alfred C. , Cella David , Sedlacek Scot , Crawford E. David , Crane Lori A. , Garrett Kathy , Quigel Christine , Gonin Rene 
Published: February 2007

AbstractTelephone counseling of cancer patients has existed on a limited basis for a number of years. One aspect of telephone counseling that has not been adequately explored involves using an outcall strategy, in which the counseling service would call the patient according to a prearranged schedule. Such a strategy could be used to overcome the potentially significant barrier of requiring the patient to proactively call the counseling service. As a preliminary phase in the development of a larger program of research on telephone counseling of cancer patients, two feasibility studies were conducted to assess patient willingness to receive outcall telephone counseling and their willingness to share sensitive psychosocial concerns over the telephone. The results obtained from both feasibility studies suggest that telephone outcalls are feasible for both breast and prostate cancer patients. Additional research is proposed to test the efficacy of psychosocial counseling by telephone using an outcall format.
Mianserin in oncology: The issue of psychotropic‐related neutropenia
Authors: Berard Raymond , Wood Lucille , Viljoen Gary 
Published: February 2007

AbstractIn the psychopharmacological treatment of depression in cancer patients, mianserin appears to have advantages over other antidepressants. However, it is, claimed to be associated with an unacceptably high incidence of neutropenia. This claim was assessed by investigating the frequency of reported cases of mianserin‐related neutropenia against the estimated prescription figures in South Africa. Simultaneously, a more specific assessment was carried out in the form of a 10‐year retrospective analysis of all patients presenting with neutropenia to the Department of Haematology, Groote Schuur Hospital, South Africa. Ten patients (18% of the total) demonstrated a psychotropic drug‐related neutropenia, and in no instance could mianserin be incriminated. The haematological lesion reversed upon withdrawal of the drug in eight out of these patients as opposed to 12 out of 22 in the non‐drug‐related, idiopathic group. It would appear that the incidence of mianserin‐related neutropenia is no higher than with other psychotropic drugs and, similarly, the condition is reversible. It is concluded that mianserin would therefore be an appropriate first‐line agent in the treatment of depression in cancer patients, subject to suggested conditions.
Neuropsychiatric disturbance in cancer patients with epidural spinal cord compression receiving high dose corticosteroids: A prospective comparison study
Authors: Breitbart W. , Stiefel F. , Kornblith A. B. , Pannullo S. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractIn order to examine the impact of corticosteroids upon psychiatric symptomatology in cancer patients, we prospectively studied two groups: 50 cancer patients with epidural spinal cord compression (ESCC) receiving a standard tapering course of high‐dose dexamethasone (i.e. 100 mg loading dose followed by 96 mg per day tapered to 0 mg over 3–4 weeks), and a comparison group of 50 patients with the same cancer diagnoses and a similar extent of metastatic disease but without ESCC who did not receive dexamethasone. Psychiatric disorder, psychological distress, pain, mental status, physical performance status, medical events, and psychotropic and analgesic use were assessed in both groups at four points during the course of corticosteroid therapy or hospitalization. Measures included: (1) DSM‐III‐R psychiatric diagnosis; (2) Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale; (3) Hamilton Depression Scale; (4) Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale; (5) Profile of Mood States; (6) Memorial Pain Assessment Card; (7) Mini‐Mental State Examination; and (8) Karnofsky Performance Status Score. While the overall rate of DSM‐III‐R psychiatric disorders was not significantly different between groups, patients receiving corticosteroids had a significantly greater incidence of major depressive syndromes (x2 = 6.08, p < 0.05), in particular organic mood disorder—depressed (x2 = 6.40, p < 0.05). There was also a tendency for a greater incidence of delirium (x2 = = p < 0.10) in the corticosteroid group. The corticosteroid group was significantly more depressed than the comparison group over time as measured by the non‐somatic items of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (F = 3.98, p < 0.02), and more anxious, as measured by the non‐somatic items of the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (p < 0.10). Thus, a tapering regimen of high‐dose corticosteroids has an influence on the incidence and nature of neuropsychiatric disturbance in cancer patients with ESCC, resulting in a significantly greater incidence of depressive symptoms and disorders.
Information needs and decision‐making preferences of children with cancer
Authors: Ellis Robert , Leventhal Brigid 
Published: February 2007

AbstractSurveys discussing information needs and decision‐making preferences were administered to 50 children with cancer (ages 8–17) and 60 accompanying parents. Children wanted information on all aspects of their disease and its treatment, particularly prognosis. 76% of children wanted to be told a percent chance for cure, no matter what it was. Only 38% of parents wanted their children to be given this information (p < 0.01). 95% of patients wanted to be told if they were terminally ill. The majority felt that the treatment decision was the physician's. Although 96% of patients did not want to make their own decisions about curative therapy, 63% of adolescents (≥13) wanted to make their own decisions about palliative therapy vs. 28% of younger patients (p = 0.018). Patients felt that people should be allowed to make decisions about participation in medical research at age 14, for treatment of minor medical problems at 16, and to refuse potentially curative therapy for cancer at 17. Parents often want to shield their children from adverse information, but most children want to be fully informed about their disease. Children usually do not want to make decisions about their initial therapy, but many feel that they should decide about palliation.
Cancer patients' attitudes to final events in life: Wish for death, attitudes to cessation of treatment, suicide and euthanasia
Authors: Owen Cathy , Tennant Christopher , Levi John , Jones Michael 
Published: February 2007

AbstractOne hundred patients with cancer were interviewed regarding their attitude to a range of final life events in both their current real and hypothetical future circumstances. Patients who anticipated a future possible role for the more passive options of wishing death to come early or ceasing all treatment, were more hopeless and had a reduced quality of life. Patients however who anticipated a role for the more active options of suicide and/or euthanasia were less fatalistic and did not report a reduced quality of life. The desire for suicide was particularly positively related to younger age, a personal psychiatric past history, and a number of treatment‐related variables reflecting increased patient autonomy.
Nurses' narratives concerning ethically difficult care situations: Interpretation by means of lögstrup's ethics
Authors: Åström G. , Norberg A. , Jansson L. , Hallberg I. R. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractLögstrup's ethics were used as a theoretical framework when interpreting 18 nurses' narratives about situations where it had been hard to know what was the right and good thing to do for a cancer patient. The phenomenological hermeneutic interpretation focused on (a) the nurses' experiences of sovereign and perverted utterances of life, ethical demands, interdependence and power; and (b) on the nurses' ways of relating to the ethical dimensions of the situation. In narratives about overwhelming care situations, the nurses did not make a conscious interpretation of whether the patients' demands were also the ethical demands of the situation. In these situations there seemed to be distrust and destructive interdependence between the co‐workers and it was seemingly difficult to be moved by the sovereign utterances of life. In narratives about situations which were possible to grasp, the nurses made a conscious effort to interpret the ethical demands of the situation and acted in accordance with their interpretation until a new interpretation was necessary. The interdependence among the co‐workers was used constructively in order to care for the patient.
The ethical dimensions of undermedication of pain
Authors: Ventafridda Vittorio 
Published: February 2007

AbstractPain is one of the major problems in advanced cancer patients. Reports of prevalence studies show an incidence ranging 25–90% in the terminal period (Bonica, 19080). Since the population is aging, the magnitude of this problem is growing large. The problem is greater due to the fact that palliative care is a neglected area; several million cancer patients suffer needlessly every day, making undertreatment of pain an ethical issue.
Adjuvant psychological therapy for patients with cancer: Outcome at one year
Authors: Moorey Stirling , Greer Steven , Watson Maggie , Baruch John D. R. , Robertson Bernadette M. , Mason Anne , Rowden Linda , Tunmore Robert , Law Matthew , Bliss Judith M. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractPatients attending the Royal Marsden Hospital with newly diagnosed cancers or first recurrence were screened for psychological morbidity. A total of 174 patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomly allocated to either adjuvant psychological therapy, a brief, cognitive—behavioural treatment specially designed for cancer patients, or a routine care control. This paper reports the results of the study one year after the baseline assessment. A total of 134 patients completed questionnaires at one year. Patients who received therapy showed significantly less psychological distress measured on the Psychological Adjustment to Illness Scale. There was a tendency for patients in the therapy group to show more change on measures of helplessness and anxiety. Using the criteria for psychological morbidity employed at the time of entry into the study, at one year only 19% of therapy patients were still in the clinical range for anxiety compared with 44% of the control patients; 11% of therapy patients were in the clinical range for depression compared with 18% of the control patients. This study demonstrates that a brief psychological intervention can produce improvement in psychological functioning which persists up to 10 months after the end of the intervention; in particular, the number of patients who would still meet criteria for ‘caseness’ is reduced. These findings justify further investigation of the efficacy of adjuvant psychological therapy in cancer patients.
Psychological morbidity in the families of patients with cancer
Authors: Kissane David W. , Bloch Sidney , Burns W. Ivon , McKenzie Dean , Posterino Maria 
Published: February 2007

AbstractAn empirical study of 102 families of palliative care patients was undertaken to identify the prevalence of psychological morbidity in family members. Beck Depression Inventory‐derived caseness was identified in one‐half of patients, one‐third of spouses and one‐quarter of offspring, suggesting that psychological distress reverberates substantially throughout the nuclear family. Anger was significantly more common in the offspring, who perceived their families to have poorer communication, cohesion and more conflict than their parents, suggesting that information about the illness may not be adequately transmitted to them. The family as a group is the most appropriate recipient of care, and family meetings are advocated to promote communication, support and mutual understanding.
Bone marrow transplantation from programmed donor, five years on
Authors: Burgio Roberto G, , Verri Anna Pia , Nespoli Luigi 
Published: February 2007

AbstractCertain peculiarities of a bone marrow transplantation (BMT), between two minor siblings are reconsidered; the recipient a 6.5 year old girl with an adult‐type chronic myeloid leukemia, was an only child, and her parents programmed a second pregnancy hoping that the future brother (sister) could be a compatible donor for BMT.Five years after this unusual and successful BMT, the psychological profiles of the recipient, the donor and their parents are substantially normal. We can therefore consider favourable perspectives for well adjusted and normal relationships among the family members, as well as for the psycho‐intellectual development of these children.Furthermore the re‐evaluation of the ethical questions and doubts concerning this ‘special experience’ suggests that the sons' and parents' rights have been fully respected.
Clinical update
Authors: Holland Jimmie , Breitbart William 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThis issue inaugurates a new Section of Psycho‐Oncology called Clinical Update. It is edited by Dr Donna reenberg, Editor of the ASPOA Newsletter and Dr William Breitbart, Editor of the Network Newsletter. Both psychiatrists review the literature regularly to identify articles for their Newsletters which they believe are of interest to professionals working in psycho‐oncology. This section integrates information from their Newsletters into Psycho‐Oncology making their reviews available to our broader audience. Dr Ann Cull has agreed to participate t o assure review of the European journals.
Psycho‐oncology: Its aims, achievements and future tasks
Authors: Greer S. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThis paper contains an overview of psycho‐oncology. A definition of this discipline and its aims is given. Advances in knowledge are described in the following areas: the psychological toll of cancer and its treatments, psychological factors affecting quality of life, psychological precursors of cancer, psychological prognostic factors and psychobiological research. Advances in clinical practice comprise the development and controlled evaluation of psychological therapy for cancer patients. Finally, some major challenges facing psycho‐oncology in the immediate future are listed.
A randomized study of a rehabilitation program for cancer patients: The ‘starting again’ group
Authors: Berglund Gunilla , Bolund Christina , Gustafsson Ulla‐Lena , Sjödén Per‐Olow 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThis study compares, in a prospective randomized design, a rehabilitation ‘Starting again’ program for cancer patients (n = 98) and a control condition (n = 101). Assessments were carried out pre‐ and post‐intervention and at a 3 months follow‐up. The program consisted of 11 structured, two‐hour sessions run for a period of seven weeks by an oncology nurse specialist assisted by experts in various fields. The contents focused on physical training, information and coping skills training. Patients in the ‘Starting again’ condition improved significantly more than controls with respect to physical training, physical strength, body avoidance, appraisal of having received sufficient information, fighting spirit and frequency of sleeping problems. Results indicate improvement with respect to the three areas focused on in the ‘Starting again’ program: physical training, information and coping skills training.
Effects of behavioral intervention on plasma cortisol and lymphocytes in breast cancer patients: An exploratory study
Authors: Schedlowski Manfred , Jung Carsten , Schimanski Giesela , Tewes Uwe , Schmoll Hans‐Joachim 
Published: February 2007

AbstractIn order to evaluate the effects of a behavioral intervention on endocrine and immunological parameters, 24 breast cancer patients were investigated after standard surgical treatment of their tumors and without adjuvant tumor treatment. Of these, 14 patients were allocated to the intervention group and 10 patients served as controls. Interventions were conducted once a week over a period of 10 weeks. To determine short‐ and longer‐term intervention effects on plasma concentration of cortisol and lymphocyte numbers, blood samples were taken before and after the second and 10th session. Psychological variables such as illness‐related coping showed no changes within the intervention period (10 weeks). However, there were short‐ (pre‐ versus post sessions) and longer‐term (9 weeks) reductions in plasma levels of cortisol in the intervention group. In parallel to the reduced plasma concentration of cortisol, a short‐term increase of lymphocyte numbers after the second and the 10th session, as well as an increase over a period of nine weeks in the intervention group, was observed. This data indicate that behavioral intervention influences endocrine and immunological functions in breast cancer patients.
Do cancer suicides differ from others?
Authors: Hietanen Päivi , Lönnqvist Jouko , Henriksson Markus , Jallinoja Piia 
Published: February 2007

AbstractBased on a nationwide psychological autopsy study comprising all suicides committed in Finland during one year (n = 1397), victims who had suffered from cancer (n = 60) were compared with other suicides. Cancer suicides were significantly older and more often male, which required adjusting the control group (n = 60) for age and sex. The cancer suicides had more pain and were more often physically disabled. The social network of cancer patients was stronger: 93% of them and 65% of the control cases had a significant other. Family histories of mental disorder were more common in the control group. Cancer was the main underlying factor in the suicide process in 62% of the cancer patients and a contributing factor in 23%. Background factors of the suicide process of the cancer patients with terminal illness (n = 18) were different from those with cancer in remission and from victims among the general population. The frequency of physical symptoms and of depression before suicide in cancer patients emphasizes the need for more competent palliative care and psychological support for cancer patients.
Parents' recall on the diagnosis of cancer in their child
Authors: Eiser C. , Parkyn T. , Havermans T. , McNinch A. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractMothers (n = 28) and fathers (n = 23) of 30 children with cancer were interviewed separately about their recall of the period immediately before the diagnosis, and their experiences during the diagnostic interview. Information about how the children were told, and by whom, was also elicited. Parents reported considerable delay between the time when they first sought professional advice about their child and the diagnosis being confirmed (mean = 17 weeks). The longer it took for parents to achieve a diagnosis, the more they subsequently blamed the general practitioner (p < 0.05). All children over 8 years of age were informed about treatment, usually by the consultant. On diagnosis, all parents recalled that information was given about cancer and proposed treatment. Fewer recalled that any information was given about side‐effects, complications or the cause. Implications for when these issues should be considered are discussed. Many parents felt unable to ask questions even when given the opportunity. The data point to the need to improve communications between families, specialist hospitals and local services.
Quality of life questionnaires in cancer clinical trials: Imputing missing values
Authors: Morris Jenny , Coyle Douglas 
Published: February 2007

AbstractQuality of life is increasingly being used as a measure of outcome in comparative cancer clinical trials. Even when quality of life studies are well funded vis‐à‐vis data collection and processing, it is unlikely that data sets will be 100% complete, leading to problems at the data analysis stage. Missing data can arise as a consequence of whole assessments being missed due to death or other reasons, or as a result of single items being omitted from particular questionnaires. This paper addresses the latter category of missing data and examines the effects on subscale scores of imputing values for missing items from the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the psychological complaints subscale of the Rotterdam Symptom Checklist.
Mental adjustment to cancer and quality of life in breast cancer patients: An exploratory study
Authors: Ferrero Javier , Barreto M. Pilar , Toledo Mercedes 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThis study explores the relationship between adjustment to cancer and quality of life in a sample of 68 newly diagnosed non‐metastatic breast cancer patients. Responses were assessed on three occasions following communication of the diagnosis and included the Mental Adjustment to Cancer (MAC) scale, a measure of denial and a Spanish quality of life questionnaire for breast cancer patients. Appropriate medical variables were considered and included in the analysis. MAC subscales showed adequate internal consistency; nevertheless, there was overlap between subscales and a second order factorial analysis suggested that two dimensions (‘perceived threat’ and ‘perceived control’) suffice to describe mental adjustment to cancer. A strong association was found between mental adjustment to cancer and reported vague physical symptomatology at the first assessment. Older patients showed higher ‘Denial’ scores and lower scores for ‘Anxious preoccupation’. ‘Fighting spirit’ and ‘Denial’ were associated with better present and future quality of life; ‘Helpless/hopeless’, ‘Anxious preoccupation’ and ‘Fatalism’ responses were negatively correlated with well‐being. These results are discussed from a theoretical point of view.