'The Relationship Between Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Coping Strategies among Patients with Cancer in Gaza Strip

Abstract

Aim: The study aimed to examine the mental health status of the patients with cancer and the coping strategies that adopted by them in front of stressful situations. Method:The sample consisted of 358 patients with cancer in the oncology clinic at Shifa Hospital in Gaza Strip. Participants were interviewed individually by questionnaire include socioeconomic questionnaire, PTSD scale, and Ways of coping Scale. Results:The study showed that 42.5% of patients had PTSD, 47% had re-experiencing of PTSD, 40.5% had hyperarousal, and 40.1% had avoidance symptoms. The group of 40 years and less were significantly higher in reexperiences than 71 years and above among the study sample.The results showed that affiliation at the highest rank (81.6%), followed by reinterpretation (75.5%), self-control coping strategy (75.3%), problem solving (72.3%), wish and avoidance thinking was (69.0%), trouble and escape was (61.8%), accountability coping strategy was (53.0%) among the study sample of patients with cancer. The result showed that there were no significant differences in sex of patients and wish and avoidance thinking, problem solving, reinterpretation, affiliation, accountability, and self-control. However, there were significant differences in trouble and escape in favor of male patients.There was positive significant correlation between wish and avoidance thinking and re-experience of PTSD. In addition, there were positive significant correlation between accountability and PTSD, re-experience of PTSD, avoidance of PTSD, hyper-arousal of PTSD. In addition, there were positive significant correlation between Trouble and escape and PTSD, re-experience of PTSD, avoidance of PTSD, hyper-arousal of PTSD. While; there were negative significant correlation between problem solving and PTSD, re-experience of PTSD, avoidance of PTSD, hyperarousal of PTSD. In addition, there were negative significant correlation between re-interpretation and PTSD, re-experience of PTSD, avoidance of PTSD, hyperarousal of PTSD. In addition, there were negative significant correlation between affiliation and PTSD, avoidance of PTSD, hyperarousal of PTSD. In addition, there were negative significant correlation between selfcontrol and PTSD, avoidance of PTSD, hyper-arousal of PTSD.Clinical implications: Our findings highlight the need for therapeutic and educational programmes-including counseling for those patients with cancer and their families, support groups, and behavioural therapy for patients with P.T.S.D, and other psychiatric disorders. Also, new family therapy programmes must be established aimed at improving communications and interactions between family members, as well as teaching problemsolving skills to assist the family members in confronting the mental health problems associated with cancer.

Breast Cancer Coping Strategies after Diagnosis: A Six-month Follow-up

“…These results are in agreement with those observed in earlier studies [8]. While, a recent study showed that wish and avoidance thinking was mostly used (69.0%) in Gaza patients with cancer to deal with stressful situations [33]. The most important aspects of coping with breast cancer in Iranian women at both steps were spiritual coping strategy.…”

Are Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Avoidant Coping Inhibitory Factors? The Association Between Posttraumatic Growth and Quality of Life Among Low-Grade Gliomas Patients in China

“…Symptoms must last at least 1 month and cause significant impairment in functioning. Many studies have found that diagnosing with cancer could trigger PTSS (Andrykowski et al, 1998; Al Jadili and Thabet, 2017). These symptoms will further negatively affect patients’ QoL (Ha et al, 2014).…”

The Relationship between Siege Stressors, Anxiety, and Depression among Patients with Cancer in Gaza Strip

“…The results different with results of Lubbad et al [23] revealed the most common reported anxiety symptoms were; I would like to be happy like others 92.1%; I lost my sleep because of anxiety 86.7%; while the lowest items were; I feel no redness face at all 22.2%; I feel quietness all times 26.3%. However, Al-Jadili et al [3] revealed that state anxiety was at the highest rank 60.8%, followed by trait anxiety 54.6% among the cancer patients. Where, Karabulutlu et al [11] in his study revealed that anxiety was determined in 61.5% of the cancer patients.…”

“…Breast cancer is the highest among females and focus in the age group between 20-59, where colon cancer ranked second, with (236) reported cases and (10.8%) from all reported cancers (MOH,higher levels of cancer-related posttraumatic stress symptoms than Danish women with comparable disease severity [2]. Furthermore, the stressors of the cancer patients at Shifa hospital where state anxiety was at the highest rank 60.8%, followed by trait anxiety 54.6%; re-experiencing PTSD at the third rank 47.0%, PTSD 42.5%, hyper-arousal 40.5%, avoidance 40.1% [3]. There are many stressors that face women diagnosed with cancer, including the fear of possible death, stress of informing family members, and the stress associated with being informed that their lives is going to be drastically change.…”

“…Al-Jadili et al [3] in a study aimed to examine the mental health status of the patients with cancer and the coping strategies that adopted by them in front of stressful situation. 42.5% of patients had PTSD.…”