Prevalence and predictors of post-traumatic stress symptoms in adolescent and young adult cancer survivors: a 1-year follow-up study.

Post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) have been identified as a meaningful indicator of distress in cancer survivors. Distinct from young adult survivors of childhood cancer, young people diagnosed with cancer as adolescents and young adults (AYAs) face unique psychosocial issues; however, there is little published research of PTSS in the AYA population. This study examines prevalence and predictors of PTSS among AYAs with cancer. As part of a longitudinal study of AYAs with cancer, 151 patients aged 15-39 years completed mailed surveys at 6 and 12 months post-diagnosis. Severity of PTSS was estimated at 6 and 12 months post-diagnosis. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to investigate the predictive effects of socio-demographic and clinical characteristics on changes in PTSS over time. At 6 and 12 months, respectively, 39% and 44% of participants reported moderate to severe levels of PTSS; 29% had PTSS levels suggestive of post-traumatic stress disorder. No significant differences in severity of PTSS between 6 and 12 months were observed. Regression analyses suggested that a greater number of side effects were associated with higher levels of PTSS at 6 months. Currently receiving treatment, having surgical treatment, diagnosis of a cancer type with a 90-100% survival rate, remaining unemployed/not in school, and greater PTSS at 6 months were associated with higher levels of PTSS at 12 months. Post-traumatic stress symptoms were observed as early as 6 months following diagnosis and remained stable at 12-month follow-up. The development of early interventions for reducing distress among AYA patients in treatment is recommended.

Kwak M ，Zebrack BJ ，Meeske KA ，Embry L ，Aguilar C ，Block R ，Hayes-Lattin B ，Li Y ，Butler M ，Cole S ... -  《-》

Post-traumatic stress disorder in Israeli survivors of childhood cancer.

DeKeyser Ganz F ，Raz H ，Gothelf D ，Yaniv I ，Buchval I ... -  《-》

Brief report: post-traumatic stress during emerging adulthood in survivors of pediatric cancer.

Gerhardt CA ，Yopp JM ，Leininger L ，Valerius KS ，Correll J ，Vannatta K ，Noll RB ... -  《-》

Prospective evaluation of parent distress following pediatric burns and identification of risk factors for young child and parent posttraumatic stress disorder.

De Young AC ，Hendrikz J ，Kenardy JA ，Cobham VE ，Kimble RM ... -  《-》

Symptoms of post-traumatic stress in children with cancer and their parents: effects of informant and time from diagnosis.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been put forth as a model for understanding the adjustment of children with cancer and their parents, but findings in the literature regarding the prevalence of post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) have been mixed. This study examined PTSS levels in both patients and parents as a function of time elapsed from diagnosis, and by use of parent versus child reports for assessing patient PTSS. Four groups of patients (total N = 162) differing in time elapsed since diagnosis were assessed with standardized measures of PTSS. Patients reported on their own symptoms, while parents reported on their symptoms as well as symptoms in their child. Significant differences between groups were observed on all patient PTSS measures. Recently diagnosed patients obtained higher PTSS scores than survivors more than 5 years from diagnosis. Likewise, parents of recently diagnosed patients self-reported significantly higher levels of PTSS than parents of long-term survivors. Parent-child correlations were high and no differences were observed between parent and patient report of patient PTSS. Comparison with historical control data suggests that levels of PTSS in patients are very low. Concordance between parent and child reports of child PTSS suggests that data may be obtained with reasonable confidence from either if only one informant is available. Higher levels of PTSS in patients who are recently diagnosed (and their parents) in comparison to long-term survivors, suggest that the symptoms reported reflect primarily a concurrent response to ongoing acute stressors, rather than a post-traumatic re-experiencing of past traumas. This, in combination with the low levels of patient PTSS raise questions regarding the utility of PTSD as a model for understanding patient and parent adjustment to childhood cancer.

Phipps S ，Long A ，Hudson M ，Rai SN ... -  《PEDIATRIC BLOOD & CANCER》