Citation

Tokgöz G, Yalug I, Özdemir S, Yazici A, Uygun K, Aker T. Yeni Symposium 2008; 46(2): 51-61.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The diagnosis and treatment of cancer can be an extremely stressful and traumatic experience. Cancer has been recognized as a traumatic event capable of precipitating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in DSM-IV. However, recent researches have showed that many positive and negative psychosocial outcomes might follow cancer diagnosis and treatment. Evidences suggest that cancer might precipitate both PTSD and posttraumatic growth, at times within the same individual. In this study we investigated the prevalence of PTSD and posttraumatic growth in a sample of cancer patients.

METHOD: Hundred patients diagnosed with cancer (53 women and 47 men) who attended to oncology outpatient units were randomly recruited to the study. PTSD is assessed with "Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID) - PTSD Module" and posttraumatic growth is assessed with "Stress Related Growth Scale".

FINDINGS: Although 19% of the sample met diagnostic criteria for PTSD, there was not any statistical significance between diagnosis of PTSD and sociodemographic variables such as gender, age, and marital status, level of education, occupation, social support, residential area and having a child. Treatment with chemotherapy and PTSD was significantly correlated. Suicidal thoughts were detected in 11% of the patients, although there was no patient with the history of suicide attempt. Mean posttraumatic growth score was 124.1±22.8 and there was not any significant association between posttraumatic growth score and the ages and gender of the patients. Religious belief either increased or stayed the same in 80% of patients. Most of the survivors indicated that their spirituality and faith assisted them throughout the cancer experience.

DISCUSSION: The presence of PTSD in cancer survivors may influence the clinical outcome. Early recognition of PTSD in the patients diagnosed with cancer is important for ensuring timely and appropriate clinical interventions. Nevertheless, many cancer survivors experience positive growth as they adjust to changes brought about by their illness. In particular, religious beliefs and spirituality provide patients diagnosed with cancer with important tools for coping with their illness.

CONCLUSION: Future research is required to develop better clinical interventions in the management of either PTSD or posttraumatic growth in cancer survivors.

Language: tr

Keywords

human; female; male; suicidal ideation; prevalence; social support; Posttraumatic stress disorder; posttraumatic stress disorder; Cancer; article; major clinical study; controlled study; disease association; academic achievement; psychotrauma; religion; cancer patient; demography; psychosocial environment; correlation analysis; cancer diagnosis; diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders; outcome assessment; structured interview; spiritual healing; chemotherapy; cancer survivor; cancer therapy; exercise test; residential area; Psycho-oncology; posttraumatic growth; Posttraumatic growth