Top

Published in:

01-12-2010

Mental health among young adult survivors of childhood cancer and their siblings including posttraumatic growth

Authors: Kiyoko Kamibeppu, Iori Sato, Misato Honda, Shuichi Ozono, Naoko Sakamoto, Tsuyako Iwai, Jun Okamura, Keiko Asami, Naoko Maeda, Hiroko Inada, Naoko Kakee, Keizo Horibe, Yasushi Ishida

Published in: Journal of Cancer Survivorship | Issue 4/2010

Abstract

Background

Few studies have addressed the mental health status of young adult childhood cancer survivors (CCSs) and their siblings (SIBs). This paper focuses on depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), and posttraumatic growth (PTG) among Japanese CCSs and their SIBs.

Methods

Adolescent and young adult CCSs (n = 185), in remission for more than 1 year, their SIBs (n = 72), and general controls (CONTs) (n = 1,000) completed anonymous self-report questionnaires for depression, anxiety, PTSS, and PTG. The physicians in charge also completed an anonymous disease/treatment data sheet.

Results

CCSs were approximately 8 years old at diagnosis and approximately 23 years old at the time of the survey. Their diagnoses included leukemia (57%), lymphoma (12%), and solid tumors (30%). Thirty-eight percent underwent surgery and 25% received stem cell transplantation. No significant differences were found between CCSs and CONTs in terms of depression and anxiety. CCSs had significantly more PTSS and had remarkably greater PTG compared to CONTs. Although no significant differences were found between SIBs and CONTs regarding depression, anxiety, or PTSS, female SIBs exhibited greater PTG compared to female CONTs.

Conclusion

To empower CCSs, they should be evaluated periodically regarding PTSS and PTG and should be provided appropriate care and feedback. The fact that the mental health status of young adult SIBs was similar to CONTs at 15 years after their siblings’ diagnoses may help reassure parents who worry about mental health among the siblings of an affected child during and after his/her treatment.

Homer MJ, Ries LAG, Krapcho M, Neyman N, Aminou R, Howlader N, et al. editors. SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975–2006, National Cancer Institute. [based on November 2008 SEER data submission, posted to the SEER web site], 2009. Available from: http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2006/.

Oeffinger K, Eshelman D. Transition issues. In: Schwartz CL, Hobbie WL, Constine LS, Ruccione KS, editors. Survivors of childhood and adolescent cancer; a multidisciplinary approach. 2nd ed. Berlin: Springer; 2005. p. 333–43.

Ganz P. Pediatric cancer survivorship: the childhood cancer survivor study. J Clin Oncol. 2009;27(14):2307–414.CrossRefPubMed

Hawkins M, Lancashire E, Winter D, Frobisher C, Reulen R, Taylor A, et al. The British childhood cancer survivor study: objectives, methods, population structure, response rates and initial descriptive information. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2008;50(5):1018–25.CrossRefPubMed

Horibe K, Tsuchida M, Tsurusawa M, Nakahata T. The realities of the medical system for pediatric hematologic malignancies in Japan. J Jpn Pediatr Soc. 2009;113(1):105–11 (Abstract in English).

Kaneko Y, Matsushita T. Revealing a true diagnosis, informed consent, and palliative care in cancer children; a questionnaire to Japanese pediatric oncologists. J Jpn Pediatr Soc. 1995;99(2):534–9 (Abstract in English).

Ishida Y, Hongo T, Kohdera U, Hori H, Aoyanagi N, Inada H, et al. There is much variation among the hospitals in some factors which influence QOL during leukemia treatment. Jpn J Pediatr Oncol. 2003;40(1):53–9 (in Japanese).

Ishida Y. Long-term follow-up for childhood cancer survivors. Japanese Journal of Pediatric Hematology. 2008;22(3):144–55 (Abstract in English).

Ishida Y, Honda M, Kamibeppu K, Ozono S, Iwai T, Kakee N, et al. Cross-sectional survey on the late effects and QOL of childhood cancer survivors Part 1: Research methods and subjects. J Jpn Pediatr Soc. 2010;114(4) (Abstract in English) (in press).

10.

Robison L, Mertens A, Boice J, Breslow N, Donaldson S, Green D, et al. Study design and cohort characteristics of the childhood cancer survivor study: a multi-institutional collaborative project. Med Pediatr Oncol. 2002;38(4):229–39.CrossRefPubMed

11.

Zeltzer LK, Recklitis C, Buchbinder D, Zebrack B, Casillas J, Tsao JCI, et al. Psychological status in childhood cancer survivors: a report from the childhood cancer survivors study. J Clin Oncol. 2009;27(14):2396–404.CrossRefPubMed

12.

Reulen RC, Winter DL, Lancashire ER, Zeegers MP, Jenney ME, Walters SJ, et al. Health-status of adult survivors of childhood cancer: a large-scale population-based study from the British childhood cancer survivor study. Int J Cancer. 2007;121:633–40.CrossRefPubMed

13.

Rourke MT, Kazak AE. Psychological aspects of long-term survivorship. In: Schwartz CL, Hobbie WL, Constine LS, Ruccione KS, editors. Survivors of childhood and adolescent cancer; a multidisciplinary approach. 2nd ed. Berlin: Springer; 2005. p. 295–304.

14.

Barakat L, Alderfer M, Kazak A. Posttraumatic growth in adolescent survivors of cancer and their mothers and fathers. J Pediatr Psychol. 2006;31(4):413–9.CrossRefPubMed

15.

Asukai N, Kato H, Kawamura N, Kim Y, Yamamoto K, Kishimoto J, et al. Reliability and validity of the Japanese-language version of the impact of event scale-revised (IES-R-J): four studies of different traumatic events. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2002;190:175–82.CrossRefPubMed

16.

Taku K, Calhoun L, Tedeschi R, Gil-Rivas V, Kilmer R, Cann A. Examining posttraumatic growth among Japanese university students. Anxiety Stress Coping. 2007;20(4):353–67.CrossRefPubMed

17.

Tedeschi R, Calhoun L. The posttraumatic growth inventory: measuring the positive legacy of trauma. J Trauma Stress. 1996;9(3):455–71.CrossRefPubMed

18.

Hudson M, Hester A, Sweeney T, Kippenbrock S, Majcina R, Vear S, et al. A model of care for childhood cancer survivors that facilitates research. J Pediatr Oncol Nurs. 2004;21(3):170–4.CrossRefPubMed

19.

Kessler R, Andrews G, Colpe L, Hiripi E, Mroczek D, Normand S, et al. Short screening scales to monitor population prevalences and trends in non-specific psychological distress. Psychol Med. 2002;32(6):959–76.CrossRefPubMed

20.

Furukawa TA, Kawakami N, Saitoh M, Ono Y, Nakane Y, Nakamura Y, et al. The performance of the Japanese version of the K6 and K10 in the world mental health survey Japan. Int J Methods Psychiatr Res. 2008;17(3):152–8.CrossRefPubMed

21.

American Psychiatric Association. Quick reference to the diagnostic criteria from DSM-IV. Washington DC: American Psychiatric Association; 1994.

22.

Weiss DS, Marner CR. The impact of the event scale-revised. In: Wilson JP, Keane TM, editors. Assessing psychological trauma and PTSD: a practitioner’s handbook. New York: Guilford; 1997. p. 399–411.

23.

Taku K. The mechanisms at work in self-growth coming from stress experience: concentrating on making meaning out of stress [abstract in English]. Journal of Japanese Clinical Psychology. 2005;23(2):161–72.

24.

Weiss DS. The impact of the event scale-revised. In: Wilson JP, Keane TM, editors. Assessing psychological trauma and PTSD. 2nd ed. New York: Guilford; 2004. p. 168–89.

25.

Zebrack B, Zeltzer L, Whitton J, Mertens A, Odom L, Berkow R, et al. Psychological outcomes in long-term survivors of childhood leukemia, Hodgkin’s disease, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma: a report from the childhood cancer survivor study. Pediatrics. 2002;110(1):42–52.CrossRefPubMed

26.

Zebrack B, Gurney J, Oeffinger K, Whitton J, Packer R, Mertens A, et al. Psychological outcomes in long-term survivors of childhood brain cancer: a report from the childhood cancer survivor study. J Clin Oncol. 2004;22(6):999–1006.CrossRefPubMed

27.

Zebrack B, Zevon M, Turk N, Nagarajan R, Whitton J, Robison L, et al. Psychological distress in long-term survivors of solid tumors diagnosed in childhood: a report from the childhood cancer survivor study. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2007;49(1):47–51.CrossRefPubMed

28.

Hobbie W, Stuber M, Meeske K, Wissler K, Rourke M, Ruccione K, et al. Symptoms of posttraumatic stress in young adult survivors of childhood cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2000;18(24):4060–6.PubMed

29.

Erickson S, Steiner H. Trauma spectrum adaptation; somatic symptoms in long-term pediatric cancer survivors. Psychosomatics. 2000;41(4):339–46.CrossRefPubMed

30.

Erickson S, Steiner H. Trauma and personality correlates in long term pediatric cancer survivors. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2001;31(3):195–213.CrossRefPubMed

31.

Meeske K, Ruccione K, Globe D, Stuber M. Posttraumatic stress, quality of life, and psychological distress in young adult survivors of childhood cancer. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2001;28(3):481–9.PubMed

32.

Kazak A, Barakat L, Alderfer M, Rourke M, Meeske K, Gallagher P, et al. Posttraumatic stress in survivors of childhood cancer and their mothers: development and validation of the impact of traumatic stressors interview schedule (ITSS). J Clin Psychol Med Settings. 2001;8(4):307–23.CrossRef

33.

Langeveld N, Grootenhuis M, Voûte P, de Haan R. Posttraumatic stress symptoms in adult survivors of childhood cancer. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2004;42(7):604–10.CrossRefPubMed

34.

Schwartz L, Droter D. Posttraumatic stress and related impairment in survivors of childhood cancer in early adulthood compared to healthy peers. J Pediatr Psychol. 2006;31(4):356–66.CrossRefPubMed

35.

Rourke M, Hobbie W, Schwartz L, Kazak A. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in young adult survivors of childhood cancer. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2007;49(2):177–82.CrossRefPubMed

36.

Horowitz M, Wilner N, Alvarez W. Impact of event scale: a measure of subjective stress. Psychosom Med. 1979;41(3):209–18.PubMed

37.

Kamibeppu K. Childhood illness related PTSD and preventive intervention. Japanese Journal of Child Nursing. 2005;28(9):1233–9 (in Japanese).

38.

Calhoun LG, Tedeschi RG. Facilitating posttraumatic growth: a clinician’s guide. Mahwah: Erlbaum; 1999.

39.

Mattsson E, Lindgren B, Von Essen L. Are there any positive consequences of childhood cancer? A review of the literature. Acta Oncol. 2008;47:199–206.CrossRefPubMed

40.

Phipps S, Long AM, Ogden J. Benefit finding scale for children: preliminary findings from a childhood cancer population. J Pediatr Psychol. 2007;32(10):1264–71.CrossRefPubMed

41.

Currier JM, Hermes S, Phipps S. Brief report: children’s response to serious illness: perceptions of benefit and burden in a pediatric cancer population. J Pediatr Psychol. 2009;34(10):1129–34.CrossRefPubMed

42.

Stanton AL, Bower JE, Low CA. Posttraumatic growth after cancer. In: Calhoun LG, Tedeschi RG, editors. Handbook of posttraumatic growth: research and practice. 1st ed. Mahwah: Erlbaum; 2006. p. 138–75.

43.

Cordova M, Cunningham L, Carlson C, Andrykowski M. Posttraumatic growth following breast cancer: a controlled comparison study. Health Psychol. 2001;20(3):176–85.CrossRefPubMed

44.

Weiss T. Posttraumatic growth in women with breast cancer and their husbands: an intersubjective validation study. J Psychosoc Oncol. 2002;20(2):65–80.CrossRef

45.

Kuratsuji T. The national registration of treatment research project for pediatric chronic specified disease in 2005. Report of Grant-in-aid of the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in 2007. [Research on Children and Families] Available from: http://mhlw-grants.niph.go.jp/niph/search/NIDD00.do.

Title: Mental health among young adult survivors of childhood cancer and their siblings including posttraumatic growth
Authors: Kiyoko Kamibeppu
Iori Sato
Misato Honda
Shuichi Ozono
Naoko Sakamoto
Tsuyako Iwai
Jun Okamura
Keiko Asami
Naoko Maeda
Hiroko Inada
Naoko Kakee
Keizo Horibe
Yasushi Ishida
Publication date: 01-12-2010
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Cancer Survivorship / Issue 4/2010
Print ISSN: 1932-2259
Electronic ISSN: 1932-2267
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-010-0124-z

Webinar | 19-02-2024 | 17:30 (CET)

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on antibody–drug conjugates in cancer

Watch now

Antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) are novel agents that have shown promise across multiple tumor types. Explore the current landscape of ADCs in breast and lung cancer with our experts, and gain insights into the mechanism of action, key clinical trials data, existing challenges, and future directions.

Dr. Véronique Diéras

Prof. Fabrice Barlesi

Developed by: Springer Medicine

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 4/2010

Toward a cancer-specific model of psychological distress: population data from the 2003–2005 National Health Interview Surveys

Pathologic femur fractures after limb-sparing treatment of soft-tissue sarcomas

Work task disability in employed breast and prostate cancer patients

Factors associated with cancer survivors’ selection between two group physical activity programs

Psychological interventions for the sexual sequelae of cancer: A review of the literature

Work in cancer survivors: a model for practice and research

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on antibody–drug conjugates in cancer