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Disrupted sleep in breast and prostate cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy: the role of coping processes
Author(s) -
Thomas KaMala S.,
Bower Julienne,
Hoyt Michael A.,
Sepah Saviz
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
psycho‐oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.41
H-Index - 137
eISSN - 1099-1611
pISSN - 1057-9249
DOI - 10.1002/pon.1639
Subject(s) - coping (psychology) , medicine , breast cancer , prostate cancer , clinical psychology , radiation therapy , psychological intervention , sleep onset , insomnia , oncology , cancer , psychiatry
Background : Sleep problems are a common complaint in cancer patients that have been understudied. Methods : This study examined changes in sleep in 33 breast cancer (BC) patients and 23 prostate cancer (PC) patients during radiation therapy and over a 6‐month followup. Coping processes were examined as predictors of sleep. Self‐reported sleep was assessed at eight time‐points before, during, and after treatment using the Medical Outcomes Study—Sleep Scale. The COPE Scale was used to assess coping processes before treatment onset. Results : Mixed effects linear modeling analyses revealed that both BC and PC patients reported the most sleep problems prior to and during the early weeks of treatment. Coping strategies predicted sleep trajectories in both groups. In particular, approach coping predicted better sleep in PC patients, whereas avoidance coping predicted worst sleep in both PC and BC patients ( p 's<0.05). Conclusion : These findings highlight the importance of evaluating sleep in patients as they undergo treatment for cancer. Additionally, they suggest that interventions aimed at increasing the use of approach‐oriented coping strategies may improve sleep and quality of life in these patients. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.