The association between previous psychological trauma and mental health among gastric cancer patients

Abstract

-Background and Objectives: This study explores the association between previous trauma and psychiatric symptoms and well-being among gastric cancer patients. Based on the vulnerability model, it was hypothesized that cancer patients who report a history of trauma would exhibit higher level of psychiatric symptoms and lower well-being.Methods: A sample of 123 consecutive cancer patients was interviewed and administered a battery of questionnaires in order to assess their psychiatric symptoms, well-being along with demographics and health behaviors in a cross-sectional design. The patients were divided based on previous exposure to psychological trauma. A set of hierarchical linear regressions was conduced in order to learn the association between previous trauma and mental health.Results: Patients who reported previous exposure to trauma did not differ in the level of psychiatric symptoms from patients who did not report previous history of psychological trauma. However, the former had significantly lower future life satisfaction and lower level of perceived social support. After controlling for covariates, patients who reported previous exposure also had higher levels of depressive symptoms.Conclusions: The study results may suggest that the association between previous trauma and mental health of gastric cancer patients is more complex. Cancer patients who report a history of psychological trauma and who face an immediate threat to life do not differ on most indices, but they do show specific vulnerabilities: they are more susceptible to depressive symptoms and to lower future life satisfaction.

The Effect of Age on Illness Cognition, Subjective Well-being and Psychological Distress among Gastric Cancer Patients

“…Medical records were reviewed by the research team for the purpose of recording demographic and clinical variables. (For more details, see Ben‐Ezra et al ., ; Palgi et al ., ).…”

“…From the psychiatric point of view, cancer patients are at risk for mental disorders and severe psychological distress because of their condition. Previous studies have reported that mental health problems experienced by cancer patients most commonly involve depression and anxiety along with post‐traumatic stress disorder (Ben‐Ezra et al ., ; Derogatis et al ., ; Kangas, Henry, & Bryant, ; Palgi et al ., ).…”

Influencing Factors and Effects of Treatment on Quality of Life in Patients With Gastric Cancer—A Systematic Review

“…These assumptions are consistent with a study of Ben-Ezra et al which concluded that patients with GC who experienced previous trauma showed higher depressive symptoms, lower perceived social support, and lower future life satisfaction relative to patients without previous trauma. Additionally, gender and marital status were predictors of psychiatric symptoms, while age, marital status, and past life satisfaction were predictors of well-being ( 62 ). The study used a cross-sectional design while a longitudinal one might be desirable for the future.…”

A comparison between survival from cancer before and after a physical traumatic injury: physical trauma before cancer is associated with decreased survival

“…Numerous psychosocial variables may account for the observed differences in survival. For instance, prior research has found that gastric cancer patients who reported a previous physical trauma also experienced greater depressive symptoms, less social support, and lower future life satisfaction [22]. Depression, in particular, has been associated with increased risk for developing and dying from cancer.…”