Course of Mental Disorders in Early Cancer Survivorship in Relation to Socioeconomic Status: A Multi-Center Prospective Longitudinal Study (LUPE).

Objective: Individuals with low socioeconomic status (SES) exhibit higher rates of mental disorders; however, data in oncological populations are insufficient. This study investigated the course of DSM-5 mental disorders in cancer patients, stratified by SES, over a period of 1.5 years following initial cancer diagnosis.

Control beliefs as mediators between education and quality of life in patients with breast, prostate, colorectal, and lung cancer: a large register based study.

Objective: Control beliefs have been found to influence adaption to a cancer diagnosis. This study explored interrelationships among education, control beliefs, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with breast, prostate, colorectal, and lung cancer and tested weather control beliefs act as mediators.

Methods: Six hundred and five patients with breast (n = 205), prostate (n = 205), colorectal (n = 124), and lung (n = 71) cancer from two German cancer registries answered standardized questionnaires.

Digital Therapeutic (Mika) Targeting Distress in Patients With Cancer: Results From a Nationwide Waitlist Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Distress is highly prevalent among patients with cancer, but supportive care needs often go unmet. Digital therapeutics hold the potential to overcome barriers in cancer care and improve health outcomes.

Objective: This study conducted a randomized controlled trial to investigate the efficacy of Mika, an app-based digital therapeutic designed to reduce distress across the cancer trajectory.

Compliance with medical regimen among hematological cancer patients and its association with symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder and adjustment disorder.

Background: Hematological cancer patients must comply with extensive medical instructions to prevent cancer progression or relapse. Psychological comorbidities and patient characteristics have been shown to affect compliance. However, the impact of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and adjustment disorder (AjD) on compliance in cancer patients remains unclear.

Changes in anxiety in the general population over a six-year period.

Background: Anxiety is a frequent condition in patients and in the general population. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in anxiety over time and to test several psychometric properties of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Screener (GAD-7) from a longitudinal perspective.

Methods: The GAD-7 was included in an examination with two waves, six years apart.

New progress in an old debate? Applying the DSM-5 criteria to assess traumatic events and stressor-related disorders in cancer survivors.

Objective: The rather broad definition of medical trauma within DSM-IV has contributed to long-lasting debates on the applicability of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in oncological patients and its differentiation from Adjustment Disorder (AjD) which results from non-traumatic critical life events. The DSM-5 criteria have introduced a narrower definition of medical traumatization. However, studies on updated prevalence rates in cancer patients are missing.

Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder and adjustment disorder in hematological cancer patients with different treatment regimes.

Background: Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and adjustment disorder (AjD) are common in hematological cancer patients as they face severe stressors during their serious disease and often intensive treatment, such as stem cell transplantation (SCT). Aims of the present study were to provide frequency and risk factors for PTSD and AjD based on updated diagnostic criteria that are lacking to date.

Material And Methods: In a cross-sectional study, hematological cancer patients were assessed for stressor-related symptoms via validated self-report questionnaires based on updated criteria for PTSD (PCL-5) and AjD (ADMN-20).

Prevalence of mental disorders, psychosocial distress, and perceived need for psychosocial support in cancer patients and their relatives stratified by biopsychosocial factors: rationale, study design, and methods of a prospective multi-center observational cohort study (LUPE study).

Background: Despite remarkable progress, cancer remains a life-threatening disease for millions of people worldwide, also resulting in significant psychosocial limitations. High-quality, comprehensive cancer care requires patient and family involvement and the provision of needs-based, targeted psychosocial services. Although progress has been made in understanding the occurrence of mental comorbidity and psychosocial distress in cancer patients, comparatively little is known about the course of psychological comorbidity and psychosocial distress in early survivorship among patients and their families.

[Impact of Oncological Treatment on Perceived Stigmatization - A Register-Based Study].

Background: Studies on stigmatization of cancer patients show a moderate or high relevance of perceived stigmatization. To date, there are no studies with explicit focus on stigma in relation to oncological therapy. We investigated the role of oncological therapy on perceived stigma in a large sample.

Interconnectivity of fear of progression and generalized anxiety - Network analysis among a sample of hematological cancer survivors.

Purpose: Fear of cancer progression and recurrence (FoP) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) are syndromes commonly seen in cancer patients. This study applied network analysis to investigate how symptoms of both concepts are interconnected.

Methods: We used cross-sectional data from hematological cancer survivors.

Web-Based Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy to Reduce Severe Cancer-Related Fatigue Among Survivors of Hodgkin Lymphoma: A Feasibility Study.

We investigated the feasibility of a web-based cognitive-behavioral therapy to reduce cancer-related fatigue (CRF) among survivors of Hodgkin lymphoma. In this before-and-after trial, patients were primarily recruited via the German Hodgkin Study Group (GHSG). We assessed feasibility (response and drop-out rate) and preliminary efficacy including CRF, quality of life (QoL), and depressive symptomatology.

Prevalence and severity of anxiety in cancer patients: results from a multi-center cohort study in Germany.

Purpose: Anxiety is an accompanying symptom in cancer patients that can have a negative impact on patients. The aim of the present analyses is to determine the prevalence of anxiety, taking into account sociodemographic and medical variables, and to determine the odds ratio for the occurrence of anxiety in cancer patients compared to general population.

Methods: In this secondary analyses, we included 4,020 adult cancer patients during and after treatment from a multi-center epidemiological study from 5 regions in Germany in different treatment settings and a comparison group consisting of 10,000 people from the general population in Germany.

Effect of depression, anxiety, and distress screeners on the need, intention, and utilization of psychosocial support services among cancer patients.

Purpose: In clinical cancer care, distress screening is recommended to identify highly burdened patients in objective need for psychosocial support to improve psychological distress and quality of life and to enhance patient empowerment. It is however unclear whether distress screeners are suitable for psychosocial care planning and thus whether they can predict the willingness that is need, intention, and utilization, to seek psychosocial support.

Methods: In a secondary analysis of a cluster intervention study, we assessed cancer patients with three distress screeners (DT, PHQ-9, GAD-7) at baseline.

The German version of the body image scale: Validation and item response analysis in cancer patients.

Objective: To translate the cancer-specific Body Image Scale (BIS) into German and assess its psychometric properties.

Methods: The BIS was translated in accordance with current guidelines. In a prospective, cross-sectional two center study (psychosocial counselling center for cancer patients Leipzig, oncological inpatient ward Berlin), we assessed composite reliability and factor structure using confirmatory factor analysis.

The association between sleep problems and general quality of life in cancer patients and in the general population.

Objective: It is well-known that patients with cancer frequently experience sleep problems, and that sleep quality is associated with general quality of life (QoL). The aims of this study were to analyze the relationship between sleep problems and other components of QoL in more detail and to investigate sex and age differences in sleep quality in cancer patients in comparison with the general population.

Method: This study comprised one general population sample ( = 4,476) and eight samples with cancer patients ( between 323 and 4,020).

Partnership, sexuality, and fertility-related communication: findings from a register-based study among long-term hematological cancer survivors.

Purpose: Even though the number of hematological cancer survivors suffering from long-term and late consequences of their disease is growing, knowledge about their situation regarding partnership, sexuality, and fertility-related communication is sparse to date.

Methods: We recruited survivors of hematological malignancies (≥ 3 years after diagnosis) from two cancer registries in Germany. We applied validated instruments and study-specific items on satisfaction with partnership, sexual functioning, and fertility-related communication with physicians.

[Survivorship care plans for cancer patients: the importance of risk stratification, self-management and health literacy in the age of digital care].

Due to an ageing population and improved early cancer detection, medical diagnostics and oncological treatment, the number of patients who are cured or live with the disease for a long time (cancer survivors) is increasing rapidly in Germany, as in all other industrialised countries worldwide. For many patients, living with and after cancer means living with physical and psychosocial disease and treatment-related long-term and late effects. In view of demographic change, rising cancer prevalence and medical progress, one of the urgent questions is how to ensure high-quality individualised and at the same time affordable cancer care for ageing patients with multimorbidity.

Attitudes toward a COVID-19 vaccine and vaccination status in cancer patients: a cross-sectional survey.

Purpose: We aim to assess attitudes toward a COVID-19 vaccine and vaccination status in cancer patients and to explore additional factors such as the level of information and comprehensibility and accessibility of this information, anxiety symptoms in general and toward COVID-19, and general health literacy.

Methods: We included 425 outpatients (mean age 61.4, age range 30-88 years, 60.

Psychometric Evaluation of the German Version of the Demoralization Scale-II and the Association Between Demoralization, Sociodemographic, Disease- and Treatment-Related Factors in Patients With Cancer.

To test the psychometric properties, internal consistency, dimensional structure, and convergent validity of the German version of the Demoralization Scale-II (DS-II), and to examine the association between demoralization, sociodemographic, disease- and treatment-related variables in patients with cancer. We recruited adult patients with cancer at a Psychosocial Counseling Center and at oncological wards. Participants completed the 16-item DS-II, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Screener-2 (GAD-2), Distress Thermometer (DT), and Body Image Scale (BIS).

Evaluation of an electronic psycho-oncological adaptive screening program (EPAS) with immediate patient feedback: findings from a German cluster intervention study.

Purpose: Distress screening has become mandatory and essential in comprehensive cancer care. We evaluated an electronic psycho-oncological adaptive screening (EPAS) which assesses objective indicators of care needs and subjectively perceived care needs and subsequently provides patient feedback with individualized recommendations about psychosocial care services.

Methods: Patients were assessed within clusters, i.

Frequency of Sexual Problems and Related Psychosocial Characteristics in Cancer Patients-Findings From an Epidemiological Multicenter Study in Germany.

Background: Multimodal cancer treatments are often associated with sexual problems. Identifying patients with sexual problems could help further elucidate serious issues with their sexuality and thus promote or maintain patients' sexual health. We aimed to assess the occurrence of sexual problems in patients across different tumor locations and to explore associated sociodemographic, medical and psychosocial factors.

Development and preliminary psychometric investigation of the German Satisfaction with Comprehensive Cancer Care (SCCC) Questionnaire.

Purpose: The assessment of patient satisfaction during treatment is essential to provide patient-centered high-quality cancer care. Nevertheless, no German instrument assesses patient satisfaction with comprehensive cancer care, which not only includes oncological treatment, but also interpersonal quality of care as well as psychosocial support services. Based on the French REPERES-60, we developed the German Patient Satisfaction with Comprehensive Cancer Care (SCCC) questionnaire.

[Cancer survivorship care programs and self-management].

Background: Survivorship care programs (SCP) are increasingly being implemented in order to ensure long-term and comprehensive care of physical and psychosocial cancer-related sequelae among survivors. In this article, we provide a short overview of SCP and the importance of health-related self-management.

Results: The broad definition of "survivorship" and the high diversity of impairments among cancer survivors warrants a personalized and multidimensional approach.

Rapid screener for the assessment of fear of progression in cancer survivors: The Fear of progression-Questionnaire Rapid Screener.

Objectives: Fear of progression (FoP) among cancer survivors can adversely affect all areas of life. Existing instruments are too long for implementation in routine care. Therefore, we developed and tested a rapid screener for FoP (FoP-Q-RS).