Resilience in patients after allogeneic stem cell transplantation

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Psychology
• Oncology

Background:

• Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) presents significant psychosocial challenges for patients.
• Individual differences in adaptation post-alloSCT are substantial, with psychosocial factors playing a key role.
• Resilience, alongside quality of life, may explain variations in patient adaptation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the role of resilience in the adaptation of patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT).
• To investigate the correlation between resilience and psychosocial outcomes, including quality of life, anxiety, and depression.

Main Methods:

• A pilot study involving 75 patients (leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, aplastic anemia) aged 20-76 years post-alloSCT.
• Utilized validated instruments: Resilience Scale RS-25, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, General Self-efficacy Scale, and EORTC QLQ-C30.
• Analyzed correlations between resilience scores and various psychosocial and quality of life indicators.

Main Results:

• Resilience positively correlated with quality of life (rho=0.587) and social functioning (rho=0.472).
• Higher resilience was associated with significantly lower anxiety (p=0.008) and depression (p<0.001).
• High-resilience patients reported better physical, emotional, and social functioning, and overall quality of life compared to low-resilience patients.

Conclusions:

• Resilience is a crucial protective psychosocial factor for patients post-alloSCT.
• Elevated resilience facilitates better adaptation to the post-transplant situation and resumption of daily life.
• Resilience and self-efficacy are strongly related, highlighting the importance of psychological well-being.