title: Distress in patients with newly diagnosed brain tumours.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patients with intracranial tumours often suffer from clinically relevant psychological distress. However, levels of distress and contributing factors have not been systematically evaluated for the early course of the disease. Using the National Comprehensive Cancer Network's Distress Thermometer (DT), we evaluated the extent and sources of distress within a population of patients with intracranial neoplasms.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and fifty-nine patients were included who underwent craniotomy for newly diagnosed intracranial tumours at our department. All patients completed the DT questionnaire, a single-item 11-point visual analogue scale measuring psychological distress. The appendant problem list (PL) consists of 40 items representing problems commonly experienced by cancer patients. Patients were asked to mark any experienced sources of distress.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Percentage of patients suffering from relevant distress was 48.4% (cut-off ≥6). DT-scores were significantly associated with depression and anxiety as well as reported number of concerns. On average, patients reported 6.9 sources of cancer-related distress. Objective medical data (e.g. tumour stage) as well as sociodemographic data (e.g. gender, IQ) were not associated with psychological distress at this early phase.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence of elevated distress is high shortly after primary neurosurgical treatment in patients with intracranial tumours and cannot be predicted by objective data. As a consequence, sources of distress can and should be routinely assessed and targeted in these individuals in this particular period. Further studies are needed to help to identify patients who are at risk of suffering from long-term emotional distress in order to enable targeted psychosocial intervention.
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany. goebels@nch.uni-kiel.de
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Goebel
authors: A M
authors: AM
authors: Stark
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Kaup
authors: M
authors: M
authors: von Harscher
authors: H M
authors: HM
authors: Mehdorn
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000275:Adjustment Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012803:Sick Role; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires