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Beyond depression, anxiety and post‐traumatic stress disorder symptoms: Qualitative study of negative emotional experiences in hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients
Author(s) -
Amonoo Hermioni L.,
Brown Lydia A.,
Scheu Carlyn F.,
Harnedy Lauren E.,
Pirl William F.,
ElJawahri Areej,
Huffman Jeff C.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
european journal of cancer care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.849
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1365-2354
pISSN - 0961-5423
DOI - 10.1111/ecc.13263
Subject(s) - medicine , anxiety , distress , feeling , depression (economics) , psychological intervention , population , clinical psychology , emotional distress , qualitative research , psychiatry , traumatic stress , hematopoietic stem cell transplantation , mental health , transplantation , psychology , surgery , social psychology , social science , environmental health , sociology , economics , macroeconomics
Objective Psychological distress impacts a variety of health outcomes in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Focused qualitative studies on a wider range of psychological distress in HSCT patients are lacking. However, understanding the subtleties of psychological distress (e.g. fear, guilt, loss of control) in HSCT patients is imperative to optimising the psychological well‐being of this vulnerable population. To explore psychological distress after transplantation, we conducted semi‐structured interviews with 25 HSCT patients. Methods Interviews were completed in the first 100 days after transplantation. Interview modules explored psychological distress symptoms in the hospital and during the first 100 days after HSCT, along with the perceived impact of these symptoms on their recovery. Results Of the negative emotional experiences reported, feeling trapped, fear, guilt, discouragement and powerlessness were frequently expressed. Patients reported that negative emotional states interfered with their motivation to participate in health behaviours important to the transplant recovery. Conclusion As one of the few qualitative studies broadly characterising the nature of negative emotional experiences after HSCT, these findings add to our understanding of the specific psychological challenges in this growing patient population and can inform development of targeted interventions and overall management of psychological distress during HSCT recovery.