Coping Styles for Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

The aim of the present study was to examine whether specific coping styles are associated with self-reported anxiety in a sample of older adults. A total of 210 community-dwelling older adults completed self-report measures of anxiety and depression and the Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced scale. Results indicated that a tendency to utilize dysfunctional coping strategies predicted anxiety symptomatology in late life, with older adults who reported high levels of anxiety more likely to report using dysfunctional coping. After controlling for depressive symptoms, use of venting and self-blame made an independent contribution in predicting anxiety symptoms. Overall, 65% of the variance in anxiety symptoms was explained by education, depressive affect, and use of self-blame and venting as coping strategies. Our findings indicate that specific coping styles such as venting and self-blame are associated with experiencing high levels of anxiety symptoms in late life. These results suggest that targeting specific dysfunctional copying styles may be useful for prevention strategies and interventions treating anxiety in late life.     

Diabetes und Depression

Compared with the general population diabetic patients have a clearly increased risk of suffering from depressive symptoms (subclinical form) or to develop depression (according the ICD or DSM criteria), which can represent a significant barrier to achieving the goals of diabetes therapy. The co-morbidity of depression and diabetes has a negative impact on the patient’s disease management, quality of life, glycaemic control, risk for late complications and mortality. Neuroendocrine alterations, disease-specific impact, direct and indirect effects on glycaemic control as well as impaired coping ability and strategies are all discussed as possible causes. Although effective interventions for the management of depression in diabetic patients exist, in clinical practise, patients with depression remain to a large extent unrecognised and untreated.     

Relationship of coping styles with quality of life and depressive symptoms in older heart failure patients

This study examines the relationship between coping styles, quality of life, and depressive symptoms in older heart failure patients. Eighty heart failure patients seeking treatment in an outpatient heart failure or family practice clinic participated in a study examining depression, disability, and heart failure. Patients completed a clinical interview and questionnaires about mood, functional impairment, comorbid illness, quality of life, and coping. Heart failure severity and maladaptive coping styles, including denial, self-distraction, and self-blame, negatively affected quality of life and depressive symptoms. The use of maladaptive coping strategies involves efforts that divert attention from the illness and suggests the need to provide heart failure patients the skills to directly address the stress associated with their illness. Interventions that target these coping strategies may help patients take a more active role in their heart failure management and may improve psychological and cardiac outcomes.     

The relationship between disease symptoms, life events, coping and treatment, and depression among older adults with osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE: The intent of this cross-sectional study was to broaden the range of variables examined in relationship to depression in osteoarthritis (OA) to include comorbidity, stressful life events, and the ways people respond to their disease. We examined the relationship of coping behaviors and perceptions, and medical treatments received for OA and depressive symptoms. METHODS: In the fifth year of a prospective cohort study, 1227 individuals >or= 62 years of age with hip/knee OA provided information about sociodemographics (age, sex, living circumstances, education), arthritis severity (WOMAC pain and function; ClinHAQ fatigue), comorbidity, life events, coping behavior, coping efficacy, treatment (pain management, treatment for depression), and depressed mood (Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale, CES-D). Using hierarchical linear regression, variables were entered in blocks to predict CES-D scores. In the final block, the interaction of coping behavior and coping efficacy was tested. RESULTS: The response rate was 82.4% (n = 1227/1489). The mean CES-D score was 9.4, with 21.3% of individuals scoring >or= 16 (supporting depressed mood). Higher level of depressed mood was independently and significantly associated with being female, experiencing greater pain and fatigue, experiencing stressful life events, more coping behaviors, receiving treatment for depression/mental illness, and a coping behavior by coping efficacy interaction, with 63.4% of the variance accounted for in the model. CONCLUSION: Among older adults with OA, the prevalence of depressive symptoms is high. Longitudinal studies must consider OA management strategies, including both the amount of behavioral coping and its perceived efficacy, to elucidate potential interventions designed to reduce depression in patients with OA.     

Psychiatric, psychosocial, and rehabilitative aspects of lung transplantation

The psychosocial assessment of applicants to the Toronto Lung Transplant Program provides the team with a variety of information including coping style; adjustment to illness; presence and management of psychiatric disorders; ability to adhere to medical recommendations; and available social support. This information facilitates the organization of resources to match each patient's strengths and vulnerabilities. The period of awaiting transplantation may be prolonged, and is often associated with high levels of anxiety. A support group, brief individual and family psychotherapies, and pharmacologic interventions have each been useful in ameliorating symptoms of stress during this time. A physical rehabilitation program is prescribed to most candidates and contributes to improved physical endurance as well as emotional well-being. Postoperative delirium has commonly occurred in lung transplant recipients, and appears to be associated with prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass when used, the administration of cyclosporine, and other nonspecific factors. Delirium has been managed with preoperative psychologic preparation and a routine postoperative protocol using intravenously administered haloperidol. Other immunosuppressant-associated organic mental disorders have also occurred in recipients. Postoperative recovery and rehabilitation are facilitated by both the preoperative exercise program and a postoperative exercise regimen. Recovery following transplant may require abrupt adjustment to new activity levels and reintegration into social and vocational roles. After 7 months, over 50% of surviving recipients have returned to employment and most report high satisfaction with physical and emotional well-being.     

The effects of personal resources and coping strategies on depression and anxiety in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Objectives

Little is known about how personal resources and coping strategies influence depression and anxiety in patients with COPD. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of personal resources on the coping strategies and psychological responses and the mediating role of coping strategies on the relationship of personal resources to depression and anxiety in patients with COPD using a path model.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional correlational study. The participants were 209 patients diagnosed with COPD in South Korea. Personal resources were defined as knowledge of COPD, self-efficacy, and social support. Coping includes both problem-oriented and affect-oriented coping strategies.

Results

Higher levels of knowledge of the disease were associated with fewer depressive symptoms; and this relationship was partially mediated by problem-oriented coping strategies. Higher levels of self-efficacy were related to less depression and anxiety. Patients with more perceived social support experienced fewer depressive symptoms through the use of problem-oriented coping strategies.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that problem-oriented coping strategies may explain the mechanism of how knowledge of the disease and social support influence depressive symptoms for patients with COPD. Further interventions focusing on modifiable factors, including personal resources and problem-oriented coping strategies, are warranted to improve psychological outcomes for patients with COPD.     

Viral infections in lung transplantation

Viral infections account for up to 30% of all infectious complications in lung transplant recipients, remaining a significant cause of morbidity and even mortality. Impact of viral infections is not only due to the direct effects of viral replication, but also to immunologically-mediated lung injury that may lead to acute rejection and chronic lung allograft dysfunction. This has particularly been seen in infections caused by herpesviruses and respiratory viruses. The implementation of universal preventive measures against cytomegalovirus (CMV) and influenza (by means of antiviral prophylaxis and vaccination, respectively) and administration of early antiviral treatment have reduced the burden of these diseases and potentially their role in affecting allograft outcomes. New antivirals against CMV for prophylaxis and for treatment of antiviral-resistant CMV infection are currently being evaluated in transplant recipients, and may continue to improve the management of CMV in lung transplant recipients. However, new therapeutic and preventive strategies are highly needed for other viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) or parainfluenza virus (PIV), including new antivirals and vaccines. This is particularly important in the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, for which several unanswered questions remain, in particular on the best antiviral and immunomodulatory regimen for decreasing mortality specifically in lung transplant recipients. In conclusion, the appropriate management of viral complications after transplantation remain an essential step to continue improving survival and quality of life of lung transplant recipients.     

HIV-related stigma and quality of life in people living with HIV and depressive symptoms: indirect effects of positive coping and perceived stress

ABSTRACT

Despite a strong evidence on the negative association between HIV-related stigma and quality of life (QoL), few studies have examined the indirect effects of this relationship. This study aimed to examine the association between HIV-related stigma and QoL and the indirect effects of positive coping and perceived stress in people living with HIV and depressive symptoms (PLWHD). This study used baseline date from a randomized controlled trial. Structural equation model was used to examine the association between HIV-related stigma and QoL as well as the indirect effects of positive coping and perceived stress. Perceived and internalized stigma had negative direct (β?=??0.14, p?<?0.05) effect on QoL. Moreover, perceived and internalized stigma had indirect effects on QoL through decreased positive coping and increased perceived stress (β?=??0.23, p?<?0.001). Multilevel interventions to reduce perceived and internalized stigma and perceived stress as well as programs to enhance positive coping may improve QoL of PLWHD. Integrated interventions that both enhance positive coping and reduce perceived stress and stigma are potentially more effective in improving QoL than programs that focus on only one aspect of stigma reduction among PLWHD.     

Quality of life in patients awaiting lung transplant: cystic fibrosis versus other end-stage lung diseases

The symptoms associated with chronic lung disease can impair quality of life and psychosocial functioning. The purpose of the present study was to provide a thorough baseline assessment of quality of life in patients with end-stage lung disease and being evaluated for transplant; and to assess potential differences in quality of life between patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and those with other types of end-stage lung disease (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), interstitial pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)). We evaluated 58 patients with CF and 52 patients with other types of end-stage lung disease who were recruited for this study during an assessment of their candidacy for lung transplant. Subjects completed a battery of questionnaires that assessed demographic factors (including work and educational status), the presence of psychological distress (anxiety and depression), availability of social support, coping styles, and physical functioning. Despite significant impairment in physical functioning in the areas of recreation, household activities, sleep, and ambulation, other indices of life quality suggested good adaptation in the majority of patients. Also, quality of life differed for patients with CF and for those with other types of end-stage lung disease. Patients with CF were more likely to be working, had lower levels of anxiety and higher levels of social support, and used more functional coping strategies than did patients with other end-stage lung disease. These results highlight the fact that patients with different types of lung disease may require different psychosocial services as they await transplant. These findings also raise the question of whether there is a difference in quality of life after transplant between patients with CF and those with other types of lung disease.     

Long-term survivorship in lung cancer: a review

While outcome research in lung cancer has focused mainly on short-term survival and quality of life (QoL), information on long-term (ie, > 5 years postdiagnosis) lung cancer survivorship remains limited. This review addresses the epidemiologic significance of long-term lung cancer (LTLC) survivors, summarizes the current knowledge on their health and QoL, and suggests areas for further research in LTLC survivorship. Based on a small body of literature, lung cancer survivors do not experience the same quantity and QoL as their age-matched peers or as survivors of other cancers. Survival among 5-year survivors of lung cancer relative to the general US population with the same demographic characteristics is approximately 60%, and lung cancer survivors score lowest in health utility among long-term survivors of other cancers. Approximately one-quarter of long-term lung cancer (LTLC) survivors were significantly restricted in physical ability or reported significant depressive symptoms. There is a need to identify and intervene with subgroups of survivors who are at an elevated risk of premature death and diminished QoL. Lung cancer-specific survival alone does not reflect the overall illness burden in LTLC survivors. Patient care in lung cancer survivors should be continuous and comprehensive in considering multiple causes of health deterioration. Multidisciplinary research in epidemiologic, clinical, and basic science approaches is warranted to further our knowledge base for optimal long-term management and to develop the necessary intervention strategies among LTLC survivors.     

Individuelle Therapieziele bei Patienten mit Diabetes und Depression

Nearly 25% of patients with diabetes have at least an impairing subclinical depression and 10% suffer from a depressive disorder. This affects the quality of life, the disease symptoms and the course of the diabetic disease. The diabetes-oriented therapy targets must be adapted for depressive patients because they are limited in coping with the daily routine due to the depression. Situations of inadequate coping can perpetuate the depression. A screening for depression must be integrated into the therapy. The treatment of depression is particularly important for patients with diabetes because of the multiple interactions between the diabetic disease and the depression.     

Impact of Disease Severity,Illness Beliefs,and Coping Strategies on Outcomes in Psoriatic Arthritis

Objective

Little is known about how people with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) cope with and manage their condition, but data show that psychological problems are underrecognized and undertreated. The Common Sense Self‐Regulatory Model (CS‐SRM) suggests illness beliefs, mediated by coping, may influence health outcomes. The study aimed to investigate the roles of disease severity, illness beliefs, and coping strategies in predicting depression, anxiety, and quality of life (QoL) in people with PsA. Additionally, we aimed to assess the role of depression and anxiety in predicting QoL.

Methods

We conducted a cross‐sectional observational study, where adults with PsA (n = 179) completed validated measures of predictor (illness beliefs, coping strategies, disease severity) and outcome variables (depression, anxiety, QoL) using an online survey distributed via social media.

Results

The participants were a community sample of 179 adults with PsA, ages 20 to 72 years (77.1% female). After controlling for disease severity, hierarchical multiple regression models indicated that more negative beliefs about consequences and behavioral disengagement as a coping method predicted levels of depression, and self‐blame predicted anxiety. Beliefs about consequences and the presence of depression predicted quality of life scores after controlling for disease severity.

Conclusion

This study offers support for the use of the CS‐SRM in explaining variation on psychological outcomes in individuals with PsA. The illness beliefs and coping strategies identified as predictors in this article are potential targets for interventions addressing PsA‐related distress and QoL.

     

The role of palliative care in lung transplantation

Lung transplantation confers meaningful benefit for patients by extending life and improving quality of life. Palliative care is a medical specialty that likewise aims to improve the quality of life of patients enduring serious illness and their caregivers. Yet, while transplant candidates and recipients face serious illness they rarely receive palliative care, even at end of life. While limited palliative care utilization is likely multifactorial, one key reason is a limited understanding of the specialty of palliative care and evidence for palliative interventions. In this review, we address this key barrier by discussing in depth what the specialty of palliative care is and provides to patients and their caregivers. We then discuss the growing evidence for palliative care interventions to improve quality of life and reduce symptom burdens in patients with malignancy including those undergoing bone marrow transplantation and patients with chronic organ failure. We then consider what palliative care needs exist across pre and post transplantation based on studies of palliative care needs of patients with end stage lung disease, studies of quality of life after lung transplantation, and limited studies of palliative care utilization pre and post lung transplantation. Finally, we consider different models of palliative care and discuss how palliative care might optimally be incorporated in lung transplantation using a longitudinal, integrated approach to palliative care.     

Quality of life, social challenges, and psychosocial support for long-term survivors after allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation

Over the last two decades quality of life (QoL) and the social challenges of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo-HSCT) survivors have been emerging as subjects of extensive research and are now considered as very important aspects in the pretransplant evaluation and management of allo-HSCT recipients. Recognition of QoL challenges in allo-HSCT survivors allows timely interventions leading to improvement of post-transplant outcomes. It needs to be recognized that long-lasting life changes associated with survivorship after allo-HSCT also significantly affect QoL of partners of allo-HSCT survivors. Currently, resources should be focused on how research findings can be used by patients, their partners, and physicians to optimize QoL and psychosocial adjustment.     

Impact of psychosocial status on liver transplant process

Liver transplant candidates and recipients are at high risk of psychological distress. Social, psychological and psychiatric patterns seem to influence morbidity and mortality of patients before and after transplant. An accurate organ allocation is mandatory to guarantee an optimal graft and recipient survival. In this context, the pre-transplant social, psychological and psychiatric selection of potential candidates is essential for excluding major psychiatric illness and for estimating the patient compliance. Depression is one of the most studied psychological conditions in the field of organ transplantation. Notably, an ineffectively treated depression in the pre-transplant period has been associated to a worst long-term recipient survival. After transplant, personalized psychological intervention might favor recovery process, improvement of quality of life and immunosuppressant adherence. Active coping strategy represents one of the most encouraging ways to positively influence the clinical course of transplanted patients. In conclusion, multidisciplinary team should act in three directions: prevention of mood distress, early diagnosis and effective treatment. Active coping, social support and multidisciplinary approach might improve the clinical outcome of transplanted patients.     

Embracing complexity: what determines quality of life in inflammatory bowel disease?

A subset of patients with inflammatory bowel disease have markedly impaired quality of life. In this issue, Mussell et al. report that patients' self-rated health status and disease-related concerns were determined at least as strongly by their habitual use of depressive coping patterns as by their disease activity. Although past disease severity may have confounded these results, the finding that quality of life is better for patients armed with a positive approach to problem-handling suggests that psychologically oriented interventions could have far-reaching benefits for selected patients. Since evidence is accumulating that stress and distress can worsen tissue inflammation and clinical course in animal models and in clinical populations with inflammatory bowel disease, we may dare to hope that interventions aimed at improving patients' stress tolerance, depressive symptoms, and coping capacities might not only improve perceived quality of life but could potentially decrease bowel inflammation and reduce some patients' need for toxic medications or surgery. Designing, applying, and evaluating such interventions should be a major item on the agenda of psychosomatic medicine in gastroenterology, and biological reductionism should be replaced by the biopsychosocial model.     

Lung retransplantation in the modern era

Chronic lung allograft dysfunction remains the leading cause of long-term morbidity and mortality for lung transplant recipients. Lung retransplantation currently represents the only therapeutic option for patients for refractory allograft dysfunction. However, debate remains regarding both the efficacy and ethicality of lung retransplantation in light of the shortage of lung allografts. The aim of this review is to discuss the available literature on lung retransplantation in the current era. Through this we hope to provide insight into ideal patient selection, donor organ selection, surgical approaches, and future considerations within the field in order to improve outcomes and best address organ utilization while a waitlist continues to exist. Lung retransplantation in select patients can offer comparable survival outcomes to primary lung transplantation. However, several risk factors including retransplantation with the first year of primary transplantation, older age, poor functional status, and ICU level requirements prior to transplantation are associated with worsened outcomes. Donor organ selection considerations are comparable to those in primary lung transplantation. However, surgical approach is often impacted by dense pleural and mediastinal adhesions in the recipient which increase the complexity of the hilar dissection. The postoperative course is often more complex for patients undergoing retransplantation compared to those undergoing primary lung transplant as well. However, pending more data on long term outcomes in lung retransplantation and the potential impact of retransplant recipients on waitlist mortality, lung retransplantation should remain in use primarily for the treatment of chronic graft dysfunction in carefully selected patients.     

Prevalence and impact of pain on the quality of life of lung transplant recipients: a prospective observational study

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence and impact of pain on the quality of life (QOL) of lung transplant recipients. Design and patients: Prospective, observational, cross-sectional study. Ninety-six lung transplant recipients (> 3 months after transplantation) completed questionnaires measuring the severity and impact of pain (Brief Pain Inventory), anxiety (State Trait Anxiety Inventory), QOL (Short Form-36 version 2 [SF-36v2]), and depression (Beck Depression Inventory [BDI]). SETTING: University medical center lung transplant outpatient clinic. RESULTS: The prevalence of pain in lung transplant recipients was 49%. Patients with pain were older, more likely to have undergone unilateral lung transplantation (64% vs 40%, p = 0.03), and were more likely to have lung emphysema (55% vs 38%, p = 0.004). Only a pulmonary diagnosis of lung emphysema remained an independent predictor for postoperative pain in a logistic regression model. Average (+/- SD) score of the BDI was 9.6 +/- 7.8 and 5.8 +/- 5.8 (p = 0.005) for patients with and without pain, respectively. Patients with and without pain did not significantly differ in terms of anxiety. Pain-free patients had a significantly higher physical component score than patients with pain in the SF-36v2 (mean, 48.7 +/- 8.6 vs 38.6 +/- 9.8, p < 0.0001, respectively), while the mental component scores were not statistically different between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Lung transplant recipients have a high prevalence of pain. Patients with lung emphysema as their preoperative diagnosis are more likely to have pain. The occurrence of pain is associated with a decreased QOL in lung transplant recipients.     

Epidemiology and Management of Depression Following Coronary Heart Disease Diagnosis in Women

Coronary heart disease (CHD) and depression are both highly prevalent in women. Importantly, depression is associated with significantly elevated morbidity and mortality in women with CHD. There are intriguing speculations about biological mechanisms underlying this association, such as endothelial dysfunction, subclinical atherosclerosis, inflammation, and autonomic dysregulation. Social and behavioral mechanisms, such as lack of social support and physical inactivity, have also been shown to play important roles. Unfortunately, many randomized clinical trials of counseling and pharmacologic interventions for depression in patients with CHD have failed to improve cardiovascular outcomes, and in fact have raised the possibility that interventions might be harmful in women. Several recent trials of new treatment strategies, however, have been more effective in improving depressive symptoms and quality of life and deserve further investigation. In this review, we summarize recent findings with regards to the epidemiology, etiology, diagnosis, and management of depression in women diagnosed with CHD.