Is perceived social support a predictor of survival for patients undergoing autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation?
OBJECTIVE
Previous research discussed the predictive value of psychosocial variables along with biomedical predictors for survival; such as affective functioning and quality of life. The present study addresses the following research question: does perceived social support prior to PSBCT have an impact on post-transplant survival?


METHODS
Ninety-nine patients suffering from Multiple Myeloma (n=55), Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (n=33), and other malignancies (n=11) completed the Illness Specific Scales of Social Support (ISSS) before undergoing PBSCT. ISSS is comprised of the subscales 'positive social support' and 'problematic social support', e.g. criticising, victimising, or avoiding interactions.


RESULTS
The mean score in the subscale 'positive social support' was 3.2 (S.D. 0.54; range 0 until 4), in the subscale 'negative social support' 0.94 (S.D. 0.53). There was no association between positive interactions and survival following PBSCT. Conversely, those patients perceiving problematic social support, showed a correspondence with poor survival following PBSCT (RR=3.649; p=0.015; Cox-regression analysis). The following variables were controlled: Karnofsky Performance Status, interferon treatment, depression and participation in psychotherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Differentiating between positive and problematic interactions prior to PBSCT helps to recognise detrimental forms of social support. Future research should investigate the clinical implications and help tailor psychotherapeutic intervention.
Frick
E
E
Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Clinic, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Germany. frick@psychoonkologie.org
Motzke
C
C
Fischer
N
N
Busch
R
R
Bumeder
I
I
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011575:Psychoanalytic Therapy; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief; D012649:Self Concept; D012803:Sick Role; D012944:Social Support; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013534:Survival / Q000523:psychology*
D007372:Interferons