A randomized control trial of stress management for caregivers of stem cell transplant patients: Effect on patient quality of life and caregiver distress.

Background: Psychological interventions reduce caregiver distress (CG-distress). Less distress in caregivers may contribute to improved patient quality of life (QoL), but empirical evidence is lacking. Will a caregiver stress management intervention improve patient QoL?

Methods: In this replication study, we randomized 155 allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (Allo-HSCT) patients and caregivers to PsychoEducation, Paced Respiration, and Relaxation (PEPRR) or enhanced treatment as usual (eTAU).

Distress and quality of life in patient and caregiver dyads facing stem cell transplant: identifying overlap and unique contributions.

Purpose: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Allo-HSCT) is a demanding treatment requiring caregiver support. The pre-transplant period is particularly stressful. How patient and caregiver dyads respond to these stressors can impact post-transplant outcomes.

Posttraumatic growth after cancer: The role of perceived threat and cognitive processing.

This study examines the relation between perceived cognitive and physical threat after a cancer diagnosis and posttraumatic growth (PTG). In total, 169 breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer survivors completed questionnaires. Hierarchical regression models found after controlling for demographic and medical variables, depression, anxiety, and perceived threat account for 41.

An evidence-based stress management intervention for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant caregivers: development, feasibility and acceptability.

Purpose: Caregivers of cancer patients face challenges impacting their physical, psychological and social well-being that need attention in the form of well-designed and tested interventions. We created an eight-session individual stress management intervention for caregivers of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (Allo-HSCT) recipients. This intervention, tested by randomized control trial, proved effective in decreasing distress.

Caregiver Sleep and Patient Neutrophil Engraftment in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant: A Secondary Analysis.

Background: Caregiving for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (Allo-HSCT) patients can be significantly burdensome. Caregiver well-being often mirrors patients' suffering. However, to our knowledge, this dyadic relationship has not been linked to patient outcome.

A randomized controlled pilot study of inflammatory gene expression in response to a stress management intervention for stem cell transplant caregivers.

Few studies have addressed whether stress-associated physiological changes in caregivers are reversible by psychological interventions mitigating distress. We report on pro-inflammatory, sympathetic, and oxidative stress gene expression in response to stress management for caregivers of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (Allo-HSCT) patients. Following randomization by permuted block to either treatment as usual (TAU, n = 11) or a stress management intervention (PsychoEducation, Paced Respiration, and Relaxation, PEPRR, n = 13), twenty-four caregivers were selected at the conclusion of a larger trial of 149 caregivers.

Elevated peri-transplant distress in caregivers of allogeneic blood or marrow transplant patients.

Purpose: A full-time 24/7 caregiver is required for 100 days or longer following an allogeneic blood or marrow transplant during which time caregivers have multiple demands. Although distress in caregivers is documented, generalization is limited by small sample sizes, restricted range of assessments, and lack of information as to which caregivers may be more vulnerable to distress. The purpose of this study was to describe the peri-transplant psychological status of a sample of caregivers of allogeneic transplant patients.

A randomized study of family-focused psychoeducation and pharmacotherapy in the outpatient management of bipolar disorder.

Background: Bipolar patients are at risk for relapses of their illness even when undergoing optimal pharmacotherapy. This study was performed to determine whether combining family-focused therapy (FFT) with pharmacotherapy during a postepisode interval enhances patients' mood stability during maintenance treatment.

Methods: In a randomized controlled trial, 101 bipolar patients were assigned to FFT and pharmacotherapy or a less intensive crisis management (CM) intervention and pharmacotherapy.

The comorbidity of bipolar disorder and axis II personality disorders: prevalence and clinical correlates.

Objectives: Many studies have examined the prevalence and predictive validity of axis II personality disorders among unipolar depressed patients, but few have examined these issues among bipolar patients. The few studies that do exist suggest that axis II pathology complicates the diagnosis and course of bipolar disorder. This study examined the prevalence of axis II disorder in bipolar patients who were clinically remitted.