| 1. |
- Cernvall, Martin, 1980-, et al.
(author)
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Posttraumatic stress and attentional bias towards cancer-related stimuli in parents of children recently diagnosed with cancer
- 2016
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In: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 11:4
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives: To investigate whether posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) are related to attentional bias towards cancer-related stimuli among parents of children recently diagnosed with cancer.Methods: Sixty-two parents completed questionnaires measuring PTSS, depression, and anxiety and the emotional Stroop task via the Internet. The emotional Stroop task included cancer-related words, cardiovascular disease-related words, and neutral words.Results: Participants were split in two groups based on the median of PTSS: High-PTSS and Low-PTSS. There was a significant interaction between word-type and group and a planned contrast test of this interaction indicated that the High-PTSS group had longer response latencies on cancer-related words compared to the other word-type and group combinations.Conclusions: Findings suggest that PTSS are related to attentional bias towards cancer-related stimuli among parents of children recently diagnosed with cancer. Implications of this finding for the understanding of PTSS in this population, future research, and clinical practice are discussed.
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| 2. |
- Cernvall, Martin, 1980-, et al.
(author)
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Twelve-Month Follow-Up of a Randomized Controlled Trial of Internet-Based Guided Self-Help for Parents of Children on Cancer Treatment
- 2017
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In: Journal of Medical Internet Research. - : JMIR Publications Inc.. - 1438-8871. ; 19:7
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: A substantial proportion of parents of children on cancer treatment report psychological distress such as symptoms of post-traumatic stress (PTSS), depression, and anxiety. During their child’s treatment many parents also experience an economic burden.Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term efficacy of Internet-based guided self-help for parents of children on cancer treatment.Methods: This study was a parallel randomized controlled trial comparing a 10-week Internet-based guided self-help program, including weekly support from a therapist via encrypted email, with a wait-list control condition. The intervention was based on cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and focused on psychoeducation and skills to cope with difficult thoughts and feelings. Primary outcome was self-reported PTSS. Secondary outcomes were self-reported symptoms of depression, anxiety, health care consumption, and sick leave during the past month. Outcomes were assessed pre- and postintervention and at 12-month follow-up. Parents of children on cancer treatment were invited by health care personnel at pediatric oncology centers, and parents meeting the modified symptom criteria on the PCL-C were included in the study. Self-report assessments were provided on the Web.Results: A total of 58 parents of children on cancer treatment (median months since diagnosis=3) were included in the study (intervention n=31 and control n=27). A total of 18 participants completed the intervention, and 16 participants in each group participated in the 12-month follow-up. Intention-to-treat analyses revealed significant effects in favor of the intervention on the primary outcome PTSS, with large between-group effect sizes at postassessment (d=0.89; 95% CI 0.35-1.43) and at 12-month follow-up (d=0.78; 95% CI 0.25-1.32). Significant effects in favor of the intervention on the secondary outcomes depression and anxiety were also observed. However, there was no evidence for intervention efficacy on health care consumption or sick leave.Conclusions: Using the Internet to provide psychological interventions shows promise as an effective mode of delivery for parents reporting an increased level of PTSS and who consider Internet-based interventions as a viable option. Future research should corroborate these findings and also develop and evaluate interventions and policies that may help ameliorate the economic burden that parents may face during their child’s treatment for cancer.
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| 3. |
- Hovén, Emma, et al.
(author)
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Increased risk of mental health problems after cancer during adolescence : a register based cohort study.
- 2020
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In: International Journal of Cancer. - : Wiley. - 0020-7136 .- 1097-0215. ; 147:12, s. 3349-3360
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In this nationwide, register-based study, we estimated the risk of mental health problems in 2,822 individuals diagnosed with cancer in adolescence (13-19 years). Mental health problems were assessed by psychiatric diagnoses and/or prescribed psychotropic drugs. Cox proportional hazards models estimated hazard ratio (HR) for a psychiatric diagnosis and prescription of psychotropic drug compared to a matched comparison group (n=28,220). Estimates were adjusted for calendar period and parent characteristics (e.g., history of psychiatric diagnosis, education, country of birth). We found an increased risk of a psychiatric diagnosis during the first five years after the cancer diagnosis (females: HR 1.23, 95% CI, 1.06-1.44; males: HR 1.32, 95% CI, 1.11-1.56), and at >five years after diagnosis (females: HR 1.31, 95% CI, 1.09-1.58, males: HR 1.45, 95% CI, 1.18-1.77). The risk of being prescribed antidepressant- (females: HR 1.54, 95% CI, 1.30-1.84, males: HR 2.06, 95% CI, 1.66-2.55), antipsychotic- (females: HR 2.28, 95% CI, 1.56-3.34, males: HR 3.07, 95% CI, 2.13-4.42), anxiolytic- (females: HR 1.95, 95% CI, 1.64-2.31, males: HR 4.02, 95% CI, 3.34-4.84), and sedative drugs (females: HR 2.24, 95% CI, 1.84-2.72, males: HR 3.91, 95% CI, 3.23-4.73) were higher than for comparisons during the first five years after diagnosis. Median age at first psychiatric diagnosis and first prescribed psychotropic drug was 18 years. In conclusion, cancer during adolescence is associated with increased risk of mental health problems that may develop in close proximity to treatment. The findings emphasize the need for comprehensive care during treatment and follow-up.
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| 4. |
- Hovén, Emma, 1983-, et al.
(author)
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Losing a child to adolescent cancer : A register‐based cohort study of psychotropic medication use in bereaved parents
- 2023
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In: Cancer Medicine. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 2045-7634. ; 12:5, s. 6148-6160
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- PurposeTo investigate the short- and long-term risk of psychotropic medication use in parents who lose a child to cancer diagnosed in adolescence.MethodsThis is a Swedish nationwide register-based study including 184 bereaved mothers and 184 bereaved fathers of 184 children diagnosed with cancer in adolescence. Logistic regression analyses, adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics and history of mental health problems, were performed to estimate risk of a prescription of psychotropic medication (anxiolytics, hypnotics/sedatives, antidepressants) in cancer-bereaved parents from 1 year before to 5 years after the child's death, with a general population sample of non-bereaved parents (n = 3291) as referents.ResultsAt the year of the child's death, 28%–36% of mothers and 11%–20% of fathers had a prescription of anxiolytics, hypnotics/sedatives or antidepressants. The corresponding percentages for non-bereaved mothers and fathers were 7%–12% and 4%–7%, respectively. Compared to non-bereaved mothers, bereaved mothers showed higher odds of prescriptions from 1 year before up to four (anxiolytics) and 5 years (hypnotics/sedatives and antidepressants) after the child's death. Bereaved fathers showed higher odds than non-bereaved fathers of prescriptions from 1 year before up to the year of (anxiolytics and hypnotics/sedatives) and 1 year after (antidepressants) the child's death. No differences in odds between bereaved and non-bereaved fathers were found at 2 years after the child's death. Being unmarried, born outside Sweden, and having a history of mental health problems were associated with higher odds of prescribed medications.ConclusionsIndicative of mental health problems of clinical importance, cancer-bereaved parents had a higher prevalence of use of psychotropic medication. A decrease in medication use was evident with time, but still at 5 years after the child's death mothers displayed a higher use while fathers showed no difference to non-bereaved fathers after 2 years.
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| 6. |
- Ljungman, Lisa, 1981-, et al.
(author)
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An open trial of individualized face-to-face cognitive behavior therapy for psychological distress in parents of children after end of treatment for childhood cancer including a cognitive behavioral conceptualization
- 2018
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In: PeerJ. - : PeerJ. - 2167-8359. ; 6
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- ObjectiveA subgroup of parents of children who have been treated for childhood cancer report high levels of psychological distress. To date there is no empirically supported psychological treatment targeting cancer-related psychological distress in this population. The aim of the current study was to test the feasibility and preliminarily evaluate the effect of individualized face-to-face cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for parents of children after the end of treatment for childhood cancer. A secondary aim was to present a cognitive behavioral conceptualization of cancer-related distress for these parents.MethodsAn open trial was conducted where 15 parents of children who had completed successful treatment for cancer three months to five years earlier and who reported psychological distress related to a child’s previous cancer disease were provided CBT at a maximum of 15 sessions. Participants were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and three-month follow-up using self-reported psychological distress (including posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), depression, and anxiety) and the diagnostic Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Feasibility outcomes relating to recruitment, data collection, and delivery of the treatment were also examined. Individual case formulations for each participant guided the intervention and these were aggregated and presented in a conceptualization detailing core symptoms and their suggested maintenance mechanisms.ResultsA total of 93% of the participants completed the treatment and all of them completed the follow-up assessment. From baseline to post-assessment, parents reported significant improvements in PTSS, depression, and anxiety with medium to large effect sizes (Cohen’s d = 0.65–0.92). Results were maintained or improved at a three-month follow-up. At baseline, seven (47%) participants fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder and four (29%) fulfilled the criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder, compared to none at a post-assessment and a follow-up assessment. The resulting cognitive behavioral conceptualization suggests traumatic stress and depression as the core features of distress, and avoidance and inactivity is suggested as the core maintenance mechanisms.ConclusionThe treatment was feasible and acceptable to the participants. Significant improvements in distress were observed during the study. Overall, results suggest that the psychological treatment for parents of children after end of treatment for childhood cancer used in the current study is promising and should be tested and evaluated in future studies.
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| 8. |
- Wikman, Anna, et al.
(author)
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Parents of children diagnosed with cancer : work situation and sick leave, a five-year post end-of-treatment or a child's death follow-up study
- 2016
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In: Acta Oncologica. - 0284-186X .- 1651-226X. ; 55:9-10, s. 1152-1157
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Cancer in a child is associated with a significant impact on parental employment. We assessed the proportions of parents of survivors and bereaved parents working and reporting sick leave five years after end of successful treatment (ST)/child's death (T7) compared with one year after end of ST/child's death (T6) and the association between partial post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and work situation and sick leave at T7.Participants and procedure: The sample included 152 parents of survivors (77 mothers, 75 fathers) and 42 bereaved parents (22 mothers, 20 fathers) of children diagnosed with cancer in Sweden.Results: The proportions of parents working or reporting sick leave did not differ among mothers and fathers of survivors (92% vs. 96% working, 20% vs. 18% on sick leave) or among bereaved mothers and fathers (91% vs. 90% working, 14% vs. 20% on sick leave) at T7. There was no change from T6 to T7 in the proportion of fathers working (fathers of survivors 91% vs. 96%, bereaved fathers 95% vs. 90%). Although more mothers of survivors (92% vs. 82%) and bereaved mothers (91% vs. 77%) worked at T7 than at T6, this increase was not significant. Fewer bereaved mothers reported sick leave at T7 than at T6 (14% vs. 59%, p<0.05). Although more fathers reported sick leave at T7 than at T6 (fathers of survivors 18% vs. 8%, bereaved fathers 20% vs. 15%), this was not significant. Partial PTSD was not associated with parents' work situation or sick leave at T7.Conclusion: Results suggest little adverse effect on work situation and sick leave among parents of survivors and bereaved parents five years after end of ST/child's death from cancer. However, the pattern of change observed differed between parents, which could potentially indicate possible delayed consequences for fathers not captured in the present paper.
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| 9. |
- Wikman, Anna, et al.
(author)
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Psychotropic medication use in parents of survivors of adolescent cancer : A register-based cohort study
- 2022
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In: Cancer Medicine. - : Wiley. - 2045-7634. ; 11:22, s. 4341-4353
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: The aim was to investigate psychotropic medication use in parents of survivors of adolescent cancer from the acute post-diagnostic phase and up to 2 years following the cancer diagnosis.METHODS: This study had a nationwide register-based cohort design comparing psychotropic medication use in parents of adolescent survivors of cancer (n = 2323) to use in parents of cancer-free controls (n = 20,868). Cox proportional hazards models, adjusted for cancer diagnostic group, parents' age, country of birth, education level, marital status and previous mental health problems estimated the risk of use from the time of the cancer diagnosis up to 2 years later.RESULTS: During the first 6 months after the cancer diagnosis, both mothers and fathers had an increased risk of use of anxiolytics (mothers: HRadj 1.71, 95% CI 1.30-2.25; fathers: HRadj 1.57, 95% CI 1.10-2.45) and hypnotics/sedatives (mothers: HRadj 1.53, 95% CI 1.23-1.90; fathers: HRadj 1.32, 95% CI 1.00-1.75). For fathers with a prescription of psychotropic medication during the first 6 months after the cancer diagnosis, the risk remained increased after 6 months (HRadj 1.66, 95% CI 1.04-2.65). From 6 months after the cancer diagnosis, only the risk of antidepressant use among mothers was increased (HRadj 1.38, 95% CI 1.08-1.76). Risk factors included being divorced/widowed, born in a non-Nordic country, older age and having had previous mental health problems.CONCLUSION: Our study results show that during the immediate post-diagnostic phase, mothers and fathers of survivors of adolescent cancer are at increased risk of use of anxiolytics and sedatives, whereas only mothers are at increased risk of antidepressant use from 6 months until 2 years after the diagnosis. Further, previous mental health problems were shown to be the strongest risk factor for psychotropic medication use in both mothers and fathers, pointing to the particular vulnerability of these parents.
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| 10. |
- Carlsson, Tommy, et al.
(author)
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Psychological distress in parents of children treated for cancer : An explorative study
- 2019
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In: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 14:6
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- ObjectiveTo explore psychological distress experienced by parents who express a need for psychotherapy after curative treatment for their child's cancer.Methods15 parents (eight mothers and seven fathers) of children treated for cancer (median time since end of curative treatment: two years) were recruited via a pediatric oncology center. Each parent was interviewed twice and data was analyzed with inductive latent qualitative content analysis.ResultsTwo overarching themes emerged. One theme, An unfamiliar and frightening situation during treatment, portrayed experiences during the treatment period, and included the sub-themes Initial reactions to the uncontrollable situation, Adjustment to the situation, and Focus on supporting the child. Another theme, Emotional struggles after end of curative treatment, portrayed experiences following curative treatment, and included the sub-themes Transitioning back to life as it was before the diagnosis, Emotional scars, Uncontrollable fears and worries of diseases, and New perspectives on life.ConclusionsParents of children with cancer experience existential, physical, psychological, and social struggles. They describe an unstable situation after diagnosis and having focused their attention towards protecting their child during treatment. After the end of curative treatment, they experience challenges with transitioning back to life as it was before the diagnosis and dealing with their own emotional scars and fears related to the child's cancer. The findings indicate an unmet need for psychological support among parents of children treated for cancer.
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