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Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in patients with acute myeloid leukemia
Author(s) -
Amonoo Hermioni L.,
LeBlanc Thomas W.,
Kavanaugh Alison R.,
Webb Jason A.,
Traeger Lara N.,
Jagielo Annemarie D.,
Vaughn Dagny M.,
Elyze Madeleine,
Longley Regina M.,
Fathi Amir T.,
Hobbs Gabriela S.,
Brunner Andrew M.,
O’Connor Nina R.,
Luger Selina M.,
Gustin Jillian L.,
Bhatnagar Bhavana,
Horick Nora K.,
ElJawahri Areej
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/cncr.33524
Subject(s) - medicine , myeloid leukemia , coping (psychology) , population , quality of life (healthcare) , psychiatry , nursing , environmental health
BACKGROUND Patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) receiving intensive chemotherapy face a life‐threatening illness, isolating hospitalization, and substantial physical and psychological symptoms. However, data are limited regarding risk factors of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in this population. METHODS The authors conducted a secondary analysis of data from 160 patients with high‐risk AML who were enrolled in a supportive care trial. The PTSD Checklist‐Civilian Version was used to assess PTSD symptoms at 1 month after AML diagnosis. The Brief COPE and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy‐Leukemia were to assess coping and quality of life (QOL), respectively. In addition, multivariate regression models were constructed to assess the relation between PTSD symptoms and baseline sociodemographic factors, coping, and QOL. RESULTS Twenty‐eight percent of patients reported PTSD symptoms, describing high rates of intrusion, avoidance, and hypervigiliance. Baseline sociodemographic factors significantly associated with PTSD symptoms were age (B = −0.26; P = .002), race (B = −8.78; P = .004), and postgraduate education (B = −6.30; P = .029). Higher baseline QOL (B = −0.37; P ≤ .001) and less decline in QOL during hospitalization (B = −0.05; P = .224) were associated with fewer PTSD symptoms. Approach‐oriented coping (B = −0.92; P = .001) was associated with fewer PTSD symptoms, whereas avoidant coping (B = 2.42; P ≤ .001) was associated with higher PTSD symptoms. CONCLUSIONS A substantial proportion of patients with AML report clinically significant PTSD symptoms 1 month after initiating intensive chemotherapy. Patients' baseline QOL, coping strategies, and extent of QOL decline during hospitalization emerge as important risk factors for PTSD, underscoring the need for supportive oncology interventions to reduce the risk of PTSD in this population.