Is there a relationship between posttraumatic stress and growth after a lymphoma diagnosis?
Journal Article (Journal Article)
OBJECTIVE: There are conflicting empirical data regarding the relationship between posttraumatic stress (PTS) and growth (PTG) observed in cancer survivors. Clarification of this association could inform evidence-based therapeutic recommendations to promote adjustment in survivors following a cancer diagnosis. METHODS: This cross-sectional study employed standardized measures to examine the association between PTS and PTG in a sample of long-term lymphoma survivors. In addition, associations between PTG and demographic, clinical and psychosocial variables were identified to inform clinical recommendations. RESULTS: Long-term survivors of non-Hodgkin lymphoma provided informed consent (n = 886; 74% response rate). Subjects averaged 10.2 years post-diagnosis and 62.9 years of age. No significant association was found between the PTS and PTG summary scores. Several demographic and clinical variables (e.g., female gender and greater social support) were independently associated with greater PTG. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians are advised to be attentive to psychosocial needs throughout the post-cancer diagnosis adjustment period by screening for PTS symptomatology and recognizing that survivors who report growth may also be highly distressed.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Smith, SK; Samsa, G; Ganz, PA; Zimmerman, S
Published Date
- March 2014
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 23 / 3
Start / End Page
- 315 - 321
PubMed ID
- 24123368
Pubmed Central ID
- PMC4016977
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1099-1611
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1002/pon.3419
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- England