Mental Health Symptoms among the Caregivers of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HCT) Patients
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Mentor Information
Dr. Christine Vinci
Description
Caregivers of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT) patients are required to provide comprehensive support for up to 100 days posttransplant. Existing research indicates that caregiving results in lowered well-being, which can impact patient health outcomes. By understanding mental health symptoms (distress, stress, anxiety, depression, and burden) faced by caregivers of HCT patients, interventions can appropriately address their needs. This study examines baseline data from an ongoing randomized controlled trial to report mental health symptoms of caregivers of HCT patients 1-2 weeks before transplant. We expected to observe more severe mental health symptoms among caregivers compared to general population norms. HCT caregivers’ data was collected to assess distress (National Comprehensive Cancer Network [NCCN] Distress Thermometer), stress (Impact of Events Scale- Revised [IESR]), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder – 7 [GAD-7]), depression (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale [CESD]), and burden (Zarit Burden Interview [ZBI]). Existing literature and standard guidelines were used to determine severity. Caregivers (n=190) were 72.6% female with a mean age of 57.4. Caregivers’ mean scores for symptoms were: distress: 4.97± 2.34 (elevated according to NCCN thermometer), stress: 15.63±10.10 (low according to IESR), anxiety: 13.69±5.70 (moderate anxiety on GAD-7), depression: 14.06±10.43 (moderate depression on CESD), and burden: 11.41±8.24 (low burden on ZBI). For caregivers of HCT patients, distress, anxiety, and depression were elevated, whereas burden and stress were relatively low. Results are driven by the measures chosen but indicate that this population experiences more severe mental health symptoms than the general population. Interventions warrant further investigation to alleviate these symptoms.
Mental Health Symptoms among the Caregivers of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HCT) Patients
Caregivers of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT) patients are required to provide comprehensive support for up to 100 days posttransplant. Existing research indicates that caregiving results in lowered well-being, which can impact patient health outcomes. By understanding mental health symptoms (distress, stress, anxiety, depression, and burden) faced by caregivers of HCT patients, interventions can appropriately address their needs. This study examines baseline data from an ongoing randomized controlled trial to report mental health symptoms of caregivers of HCT patients 1-2 weeks before transplant. We expected to observe more severe mental health symptoms among caregivers compared to general population norms. HCT caregivers’ data was collected to assess distress (National Comprehensive Cancer Network [NCCN] Distress Thermometer), stress (Impact of Events Scale- Revised [IESR]), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder – 7 [GAD-7]), depression (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale [CESD]), and burden (Zarit Burden Interview [ZBI]). Existing literature and standard guidelines were used to determine severity. Caregivers (n=190) were 72.6% female with a mean age of 57.4. Caregivers’ mean scores for symptoms were: distress: 4.97± 2.34 (elevated according to NCCN thermometer), stress: 15.63±10.10 (low according to IESR), anxiety: 13.69±5.70 (moderate anxiety on GAD-7), depression: 14.06±10.43 (moderate depression on CESD), and burden: 11.41±8.24 (low burden on ZBI). For caregivers of HCT patients, distress, anxiety, and depression were elevated, whereas burden and stress were relatively low. Results are driven by the measures chosen but indicate that this population experiences more severe mental health symptoms than the general population. Interventions warrant further investigation to alleviate these symptoms.
