Distress in hospitalized cancer patients: Associations with personality traits, clinical and psychosocial characteristics

Theresia Pichler, Birgitt Marten-Mittag, Kerstin Hermelink, Eva Telzerow, Tamara Frank, Ulrike Ackermann, Claus Belka, Stephanie E. Combs, Christian Gratzke, Jürgen Gschwend, Nadia Harbeck, Volker Heinemann, Kathleen Herkommer, Marion Kiechle, Sven Mahner, Steffi Pigorsch, Josefine Rauch, Christian Stief, Friederike Mumm, Pia HeußnerPeter Herschbach, Andreas Dinkel

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: To improve allocation of psychosocial care and to provide patient-oriented support offers, identification of determinants of elevated distress is needed. So far, there is a lack of evidence investigating the interplay between individual disposition and current clinical and psychosocial determinants of distress in the inpatient setting. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we investigated 879 inpatients with different cancer sites treated in a German Comprehensive Cancer Center. Assessment of determinants of elevated distress included sociodemographic, clinical and psychosocial characteristics as well as dimensions of personality. Multiple linear regression was applied to identify determinants of psychosocial distress. Results: Mean age of the patients was M = 61.9 (SD = 11.8), 48.1% were women. In the multiple linear regression model younger age (β = −0.061, p = 0.033), higher neuroticism (β = 0.178, p = <0.001), having metastases (β = 0.091, p = 0.002), being in a worse physical condition (β = 0.380, p = <0.001), depressive symptoms (β = 0.270, p = <0.001), not feeling well informed about psychological support (β = 0.054, p = 0.046) and previous uptake of psychological treatment (β = 0.067, p = 0.020) showed significant associations with higher psychosocial distress. The adjusted R2 of the overall model was 0.464. Conclusion: Controlling for sociodemographic characteristics and dispositional vulnerability, that is neuroticism, current clinical and psychosocial characteristics were still associated with hospitalized patients' psychosocial distress. Psycho-oncologists should address both, the more transient emotional responses, such as depressive symptoms, as well as more enduring patient characteristics, like neuroticism.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)770-778
Number of pages9
JournalPsycho-Oncology
Volume31
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2022

Keywords

  • cancer
  • depression
  • inpatients
  • mental health
  • oncology
  • personality
  • psycho-oncology
  • psychosocial distress
  • risk factors

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