Increased Distress in Neurooncological Patients, a Monocentric Longitudinal Study: When to Screen Which Patient?

Neurooncological patients are well-known to experience an increased psycho-oncological burden with a negative impact on distress, therapy adherence, quality of life, and finally survival. But still, psycho-oncological screening and support is rare, with ongoing discussion about specific screening time points and impact factors. Therefore, we analysed the psycho-oncologic treatment demand at specific disease-related time points throughout therapy.

In this longitudinal, prospective, single-centre study, patients with malignant brain tumours were screened for increased distress (using the Distress Thermometer), anxiety, depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale questionnaire), and health-related quality of life interference (EORTC QLQ C30-BN20 questionnaire) at specific longitudinal time points during therapy. The results were correlated with sociodemographic and clinical data.

From 2013 to 2017, 2500 prospective screening data points from 512 malignant brain tumour patients were analysed. DT was identified as a significant predictor for psycho-oncological treatment demand (p < 0.001). Particularly significant time points concerning psycho-oncological burden were primary diagnosis and tumour recurrence. Next to these known factors, here, patients < 65 years old and female patients (p = 0.018 and p = 0.017) reflected increased screening results, whereas partnership and professional activity (p = 0.043; p = 0.017) were identified as contributing factors to a significantly decreased treatment demand.

The increased need for psycho-oncological support for neurooncological patients is underlined. Psycho-oncological support should particularly be offered at the time points of primary diagnosis and tumour recurrence. To support the positive effect of caregivers, they should be involved at an early stage.