Predictors of depressive symptomatology of geriatric patients with lung cancer-a longitudinal analysis

• Published in: Psycho-oncology (Chichester, England) England), 2002-01, Vol.11 (1), p.12-22
• Main Authors: Kurtz, M.E., Kurtz, J.C., Stommel, M., Given, C.W., Given, B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living - psychology; Adaptation, Psychological; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Caregivers - psychology; Depression; Depression - diagnosis; Depression - psychology; Elderly people; Female; Humans; Longitudinal studies; Lung cancer; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Lung Neoplasms - psychology; Lung Neoplasms - therapy; Male; Neoplasm Staging; Personality Inventory; Predictors; Sick Role; Social Adjustment; Social Support; USA
• ISSN: 1057-9249; 1099-1611
• DOI: 10.1002/pon.545

Background: Lung cancer is a major health problem throughout the world. It is the leading cause of cancer‐related death in men and women in the USA, with a 5‐year survival rate of only 14%. It has been hypothesized that variables such as physical and social functioning, cancer‐related symptomatology, comorbid conditions, cell type, and treatment are valid predictors of the psychological response to a diagnosis of lung cancer. Methods: As part of a larger longitudinal study, 211 patients, 65 years of age or older, with an incident diagnosis of lung cancer, were recruited from 23 sites within a midwestern state. Repeated measures analysis of variance techniques were used to analyse how age, gender, comorbid conditions, stage of disease, cell type, as well as the time‐dependent variables symptoms, physical functioning, social functioning, and treatment predict depressive symptomatology at four assessments over the first year following diagnosis. Results: Social functioning (p