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Annals of Behavioral Medicine
Published in: Annals of Behavioral Medicine 4/2017

01-08-2017 | Original Article

Distress is Interdependent in Patients and Caregivers with Newly Diagnosed Incurable Cancers

Authors: Jamie M. Jacobs, PhD, Kelly M. Shaffer, MS, Ryan D. Nipp, MD, Joel N. Fishbein, BA, James MacDonald, BA, Areej El-Jawahri, MD, William F. Pirl, MD, MPH, Vicki A. Jackson, MD, MPH, Elyse R. Park, PhD, MPH, Jennifer S. Temel, MD, Joseph A. Greer, PhD

Published in: Annals of Behavioral Medicine | Issue 4/2017

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Abstract

Background

Individuals with advanced, incurable cancer often experience high physical and psychological symptom burden. Family and friend caregivers are at risk for emotional distress.

Purpose

The aim of the study is to investigate the interrelationship of distress in patient-caregiver dyads at the time of newly diagnosed incurable cancer.

Methods

From May 2011 to July 2015, within 8 weeks of diagnosis of advanced lung or noncolorectal gastrointestinal cancer, 350 patients and 275 family caregivers were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial of early palliative care. Actor–partner interdependence modeling was used to examine relationships between dyad’s self-reported anxiety and depressive symptoms on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale at baseline.

Results

Comparing patients with caregivers, patients reported more depressive symptoms (M diff = .84; t[274] = 3.17, p = .002, d = .22) and caregivers reported more anxiety symptoms (M diff =1.62, t[274] = 4.91, p < .001, d = .39). Dyads’ anxiety symptoms were positively associated, as were depressive symptoms (rs = .21, ps ≤ .001). Actor–partner interdependence modeling showed that patients’ anxiety symptoms were positively associated with their own depressive symptoms, with an equal effect for caregivers (actor effect βs = 0.52, ps < .001). Patients’ own anxiety was concurrently positively associated with their caregivers’ depressive symptoms, with an equal effect for caregivers to patients (partner effect βs=0.08, ps=.008).

Conclusions

In the context of newly diagnosed incurable cancer, caregivers experience more pronounced anxiety, while patients report greater depressive symptoms. Findings indicate that anxiety and depressive symptoms are interrelated among dyads facing newly diagnosed incurable disease. Results emphasize the importance of addressing distress in both patients and caregivers. Future research should discern when dyadic versus individual psychosocial interventions would be optimal.

Trial Registration Number

The trial was registered with the ClinicalTrials.​gov database (NCT02349412) https://​clinicaltrials.​gov/​ct2/​show/​NCT02349412.
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Metadata
Title
Distress is Interdependent in Patients and Caregivers with Newly Diagnosed Incurable Cancers
Authors
Jamie M. Jacobs, PhD
Kelly M. Shaffer, MS
Ryan D. Nipp, MD
Joel N. Fishbein, BA
James MacDonald, BA
Areej El-Jawahri, MD
William F. Pirl, MD, MPH
Vicki A. Jackson, MD, MPH
Elyse R. Park, PhD, MPH
Jennifer S. Temel, MD
Joseph A. Greer, PhD
Publication date
01-08-2017
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Annals of Behavioral Medicine / Issue 4/2017
Print ISSN: 0883-6612
Electronic ISSN: 1532-4796
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-017-9875-3

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