Association among depression, demoralization, and posttraumatic growth in cancer patient: preliminary study — ASN Events
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Association among depression, demoralization, and posttraumatic growth in cancer patient: preliminary study (#428)

Chun-Kai Fang 1 2 , Yu-Jing Chiu 3 , Pei-Chen Yeh 3 , Shih-Hsuan Pi 2 , Yu-Chan Li 3
  1. Department of medicine, Mackay Medical College, New Taipei, Taiwan
  2. Department of Psychiatry, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
  3. Institute of Life and Death Education and Counseling, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taipei, Taiwan

Background: With the viewpoint of positive psychology, posttraumatic growth in cancer patients is valued for cancer patients. In the other hand, with the viewpoint of psychopathology, both depression and demoralization are two common psychiatric diagnoses in cancer patients. However, there are not enough survey to understand the association among depression, demoralization, and posttraumatic growth. The preliminary study is to understand their association. Methods: After the approval of the Institutional Review Board, we invited inpatients and outpatients with lung cancer, lymphoma, or leukemia in Mackay Memorial Hospital to attend the study. Under the guidance of research assistants, all participants completed all questionnaires, including Distress Thermometer (DT), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Demoralization Scale (DS), and Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). Data were analyzed with SPSS statistical software 18.0. Results: A total of 86 participants (female: n=49, 57%) completed the study. The means of DT, PHQ-9, DS, and PTGI scores were 4.10 (SD= 2.28), 6.64 (SD= 4.46), 28.76 (SD= 12.63), and 57.41 (SD= 23.84). By using the Pearson product–moment correlation coefficient to explore the relationship between the different scales, DT correlated with PHQ-9 (r=0.49, p< 0.001) and DS (r= 0.48, p< 0.001), but not with PTGI (r= -0.04, p=0.73); PTGI did not correlate with PHQ-9 (r= 0.12, p=0.20) or DS (r= -0.11, p= 0.30). In the subscales, loss of meaning in DS was negative association with new possibilities (r= -0.25, p<0.05) and personal strength (r= -0.27. p< 0.05) in PTGI; and sense of failure in SD was negative association with relating to others (r= -0.22, p< 0.05), new possibilities (r= -0.33, p<0.01) and personal strength (r= -0.33. p< 0.01) in PTGI. Conclusion: Although PTGI was not associated with PHQ-9 or DS, some subscales of PTGI were negative associated with loss of meaning and sense of failure. We need more participants to understand their association to find how to promote posttraumatic growth, and to prevent depression and demoralization.

  1. Cheng-Yang Lee, Chun-Kai Fang, Yuh-Cheng Yang, Chien-Liang Liu, Yi-Shing Leu, Tsang-En Wang, Yi-Fang Chang, Ruey-Kuen Hsieh, Yu-Jen Chen, Li-Yun Tsai, Shen-Ing Liu, Hong-Wen Chen. Demoralization syndrome among cancer outpatients in Taiwan. Supportive Care