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The long‐term impact of cancer: Evaluating psychological distress in adolescent and young adult cancer survivors in Switzerland
Author(s) -
Michel Gisela,
François Constanza,
Harju Erika,
Dehler Silvia,
Roser Katharina
Publication year - 2019
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.4981
Subject(s) - somatization , psychosocial , anxiety , medicine , distress , cancer , depression (economics) , clinical psychology , young adult , psychological distress , survivorship curve , psychiatry , gerontology , economics , macroeconomics
Objectives Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) are diagnosed with cancer during a critical life period full of psychosocial challenges. They may experience a significant impact of the cancer diagnosis on their psychological health, also in the long term. We aimed to (a) evaluate psychological distress in AYA cancer survivors and compare levels of distress with controls and (b) describe socio‐demographic and cancer‐related characteristics associated with psychological distress. Methods We sent a questionnaire to AYA cancer survivors (aged 16‐25 y at diagnosis, survived ≥5 y) registered in the Cancer Registry Zurich and Zug, Switzerland. Psychological distress was measured using the Brief Symptom Inventory‐18 (BSI‐18) assessing anxiety, depression, and somatization and a global severity index (GSI) (cutoff score indicating psychological distress: T ≥ 57). Distress levels were compared between survivors and controls. We used logistic regression to determine associations of socio‐demographic and cancer‐related characteristics with distress. Results Of 160 AYA cancer survivors, 34 (21%) reported being distressed (27% in women, 17% in men; P = 0.129). Compared with controls, survivors did not report higher levels of distress (all P values > 0.05). Survivors with migration background and survivors with late effects reported higher levels on GSI, somatization, and anxiety. Higher levels of depression were associated with being female, not being in a partnership, and having late effects. Conclusions A substantial subgroup of AYA cancer survivors reported psychological distress. Systematically screening for distress and providing psychological follow‐up for survivors at risk may help to provide adequate psychological support.