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Competing-Risk Nomogram for Predicting Cancer-Specific Survival in Multiple Primary Colorectal Cancer Patients after Surgery
Published on: September 27, 2024
196
Existential distress in advanced cancer: A cohort study
Rebecca Philipp1, Charlotte Walbaum2, Uwe Koch1
1Department of Medical Psychology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
General Hospital Psychiatry
|March 19, 2025
Summary
Nearly half of advanced cancer patients experience existential distress, impacting quality of life. Co-occurring mental disorders are common, necessitating integrated treatment for both existential distress and mental health conditions.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Psychiatry
- Palliative Care
Background:
- Clinically significant existential distress can negatively impact advanced cancer patients' quality of life and communication.
- Existential distress manifests as demoralization, death anxiety, and dignity-related distress.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of existential distress (demoralization, death anxiety, dignity-related distress) in advanced cancer patients.
- To examine the co-occurrence of existential distress with mental disorders in this population.
Main Methods:
- Structured clinical interviews and self-report questionnaires were used.
- Patients with Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) stage IV solid tumors were recruited from oncology and palliative care settings.
Main Results:
- 46.4% of patients reported clinically relevant existential distress, with dignity-related distress being most common (38.7%).
- Mental disorders were present in 26.2% of patients, including major depression and anxiety disorders.
- Existential distress and mental disorders co-occurred in 20.0% of patients.
Conclusions:
- Existential distress is a prevalent and significant issue in advanced cancer care.
- Identifying and addressing existential distress can improve patients' quality of life.
- Integrated treatment for comorbid existential distress and mental disorders is crucial.
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