The relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder, mood states, functional status, and quality of life in oncology outpatients.

Context: Oncology patients are at risk for developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other comorbid mood states, which are associated with decreases in functional status and quality of life (QOL). However, few studies have investigated the relationship between PTSD, other mood states, functional status, and QOL in oncology outpatients.

Objectives: This study had four aims: 1) determine the percentages of patients with PTSD and partial PTSD; 2) evaluate for differences in demographic and clinical characteristics among patients with PTSD, partial PTSD, and no PTSD; 3) evaluate for differences in mood states, functional status, and QOL among the three PTSD groups; and 4) evaluate whether demographic and disease characteristics were predictors of PTSD.

A randomized, clinical trial of education or motivational-interviewing-based coaching compared to usual care to improve cancer pain management.

Purpose/objectives: To test the effectiveness of two interventions compared to usual care in decreasing attitudinal barriers to cancer pain management, decreasing pain intensity, and improving functional status and quality of life (QOL).

Design: Randomized clinical trial.

Setting: Six outpatient oncology clinics (three Veterans Affairs [VA] facilities, one county hospital, and one community-based practice in California, and one VA clinic in New Jersey)Sample: 318 adults with various types of cancer-related pain.

Nurse coaching to explore and modify patient attitudinal barriers interfering with effective cancer pain management.

Purpose/objectives: To describe a complex coaching intervention to help patients with cancer pain explore beliefs and attitudinal barriers interfering with pain management. Patients were coached to explore beliefs about pain, communications about pain management, and the use of analgesics and nonpharmacologic interventions.

Data Sources: Published journal articles, abstracts, and psychology textbooks.

Videoconferencing for a veteran's pain management follow-up clinic.

The under treatment of pain has been well documented. Contributing to this is the limited availability of pain management specialists in many geographic areas. The use of technology to provide care to underserved areas is gaining momentum.

Sleep quality and the role of sleep medications for veterans with chronic pain.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the nature of sleep problems in veterans presenting to a pain clinic, factors that predict likelihood of being prescribed a sleep medication, types of medications prescribed, and the relationships between sleep medication use and sleep quality, pain, and depression.

Design/setting/patients: Participants were 201 consecutive patients referred to a Veterans Affairs outpatient pain clinic. They were administered the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Multidimensional Pain Inventory, and Beck Depression Inventory at intake and 2-month follow-up.