Relationship between mood disturbance and sleep quality in oncology outpatients at the initiation of radiation therapy.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to describe the occurrence of significant mood disturbance and evaluate for differences in sleep quality among four mood groups (i.e., neither anxiety nor depression, only anxiety, only depression, anxiety and depression) prior to the initiation of radiation therapy (RT).


METHODS
Patients (n=179) with breast, prostate, lung, and brain cancer were evaluated prior to the initiation of RT using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, and the Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory. Differences in sleep disturbance among the four mood groups were evaluated using analyses of variance.


RESULTS
While 38% of the patients reported some type of mood disturbance, 57% of the patients reported sleep disturbance. Patients with clinically significant levels of anxiety and depression reported the highest levels of sleep disturbance.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, oncology patients with mood disturbances reported more sleep disturbance than those without mood disturbance. Findings suggest that oncology patients need to be assessed for mood and sleep disturbances.
Van Onselen
Christina
C
School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Dunn
Laura B
LB
Lee
Kathryn
K
Dodd
Marylin
M
Koetters
Theresa
T
West
Claudia
C
Paul
Steven M
SM
Aouizerat
Bradley E
BE
Wara
William
W
Swift
Patrick
P
Miaskowski
Christine
C
D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000532:radiotherapy; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires