Predictors of cognitive failures in cancer survivors

Progress in cancer dia-gnostic and treatment increases the probability of survival and survival time in cancer patients. Current research focuses on the quality of life of cancer survivors and the late effects of treatment, which can take the form of cognitive failures in daily life. The aim of the presented research was to examine the relationships between subjectively-reported cognitive failures and selected socio-demographic, clinical, and psychological characteristics (age, hormonal treatment, depression, anxiety, fatigue, sleep satisfaction).

The research sample consisted of 102 cancer survivors aged 25-79 years and a mean time since the end of the last treatment was 17.4 months (standard deviation = 15.4). The largest part of the sample consisted of breast cancer survivors (62.4%). The level of cognitive errors and failures was measured by the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire. The PHQ-9 Patient Health Questionnaire, the GAD-7 General Anxiety Disorder Scale, and the WHOQOL-BREF Quality of Life Questionnaire were used to measure depression, anxiety, and selected aspects of quality of life.

An increased level of cognitive failures in daily life was found in approximately one-third of cancer survivors. The overall cognitive failures score is strongly related to the level of depression and anxiety. Decreasing levels of energy and sleep satisfaction are associated with increasing cognitive failures in everyday life. The age and hormonal therapy do not significantly differentiate the level of cognitive failures. In the regression model, which explained 34.4% of the variance of subjectively-reported cognitive functioning, depression was the only significant predictor.

The study results mention relationship between subjective evaluation of cognitive functioning and emotional experience in cancer survivors. The administration of self-reported methods for measuring cognitive failures can be helpful in clinical practice in identifying psychological distress.