The impact of optimism on anxiety, depression and quality of life in urogenital cancer patients.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between optimism and anxiety, depression and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). A further aim was to investigate the predictive value of optimism for anxiety, depression and HRQOL, quantified with and without controlling the corresponding base level.


METHODS
A total of 427 urogenital cancer patients were asked to complete the Life Orientation Test (LOT), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the health survey SF-8 during their stay in the hospital (T1), two weeks later (T2) and three months later.


RESULTS
Finally, 275 patients (64.4%) completed all questionnaires. Optimism at T1 was significantly associated with anxiety (r=-0.35), depression (r=-0.41) and HRQOL (physical: r=0.29; mental: r=0.27) and can predict outcome variables three months later. After controlling for the base levels of anxiety, depression and HRQOL, the predictive value of optimism remained significant but small. The incrementally variance explained by the LOT varied between 2.1% in anxiety and 8.2% in physical HRQOL.


CONCLUSIONS
Especially patients with a low level of optimism and a high level of pessimism are at risk for higher levels of anxiety and depression in addition to lowered HRQOL.
Zenger
Markus
M
Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany. Markus.Zenger@medizin.unileipzig.de
Brix
Christina
C
Borowski
Johannes
J
Stolzenburg
Jens-Uwe
JU
Hinz
Andreas
A
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011379:Prognosis; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D014565:Urogenital Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy