A new review of published studies indicates that distress and neuroticism at or within 3 months of cancer diagnosis may predict emotional distress at least 12 months later. In the Psycho-Oncology analysis, there was no consistent evidence that demographic, clinical, or social factors reliably predict long-term distress.
A new review of published studies indicates that distress and neuroticism at or within 3 months of cancer diagnosis may predict emotional distress at least 12 months later. In the Psycho-Oncology analysis, there was no consistent evidence that demographic, clinical, or social factors reliably predict long-term distress.
The investigators noted that studies included in the analysis were varied, with different populations and methods. Therefore, additional studies are needed to test and expand the preliminary findings before any conclusions can be reached.
“While the research suggests that levels of distress and neuroticism around the time of diagnosis are useful markers of vulnerability, further prospective research is now needed in order to understand how these variables might be related and to identify the psychological mechanisms by which distress is maintained,” said lead author Dr. Sharon Cook, of the University of Liverpool, in the UK.
Additional Information
Link to Study: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pon.4601/full
About Journal
Psycho-Oncology is concerned with the psychological, social, behavioral, and ethical aspects of cancer. This subspeciality addresses the two major psychological dimensions of cancer: the psychological responses of patients to cancer at all stages of the disease, and that of their families and caretakers; and the psychological, behavioral and social factors that may influence the disease process. Psycho-oncology is an area of multi-disciplinary interest and has boundaries with the major specialities in oncology: the clinical disciplines (surgery, medicine, pediatrics, radiotherapy), epidemiology, immunology, endocrinology, biology, pathology, bioethics, palliative care, rehabilitation medicine, clinical trials research and decision making, as well as psychiatry and psychology.
Penny Smith
+44 (0) 1243 770448
sciencenewsroom@wiley.com