title: Demoralization syndrome among cancer outpatients in Taiwan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper aims to explore characteristics of demoralization syndrome as well as the relationship between demoralization syndrome and psychosocial issues as seen through examinations of cancer outpatients in Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatients with different cancer types were enrolled in this study. The Demoralization Scale Mandarin Version (DS-MV), Patient Health Questionnaire, Beck Hopelessness Scale, and McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire-Taiwan Version were used as instruments. All data were analyzed using SPSS 18.0.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 234 patients studied (97 men and 223 women), the majority had cervical cancer (29.1%), followed by breast cancer (26.5%) and head and neck cancer (24.3%). The mean score of DS-MV was 31.05 (SD 14.87). The results of ANOVA analysis showed a significant effect of occupation F(4.209) = 7.145 (p < 0.001), cancer diagnosis F(7.206) = 3.795 (p < 0.001), and treatment F(8.206) = 3.553 (p < 0.001) on DS-MV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Demoralization syndrome was found to be related to psychosocial issues, different cancer types, and treatments. Further studies are recommended to better understand causes and impacts of demoralization in the quality of life and care of cancer patients.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Cheng-Yang
authors: CY
authors: Lee
authors: Chun-Kai
authors: CK
authors: Fang
authors: Yuh-Cheng
authors: YC
authors: Yang
authors: Chien-Liang
authors: CL
authors: Liu
authors: Yi-Shing
authors: YS
authors: Leu
authors: Tsang-En
authors: TE
authors: Wang
authors: Yi-Fang
authors: YF
authors: Chang
authors: Ruey-Kuen
authors: RK
authors: Hsieh
authors: Yu-Jen
authors: YJ
authors: Chen
authors: Li-Yun
authors: LY
authors: Tsai
authors: Shen-Ing
authors: SI
authors: Liu
authors: Hong-Wen
authors: HW
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D010045:Outpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D060685:Sense of Coherence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013577:Syndrome; D013624:Taiwan; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology