title: Distressed partners and caregivers do not recover easily: adjustment trajectories among partners and caregivers of cancer survivors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although a number of cross-sectional studies document the distress experienced by partners and caregivers of cancer survivors, few have considered their potential differential patterns of adjustment over time.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Identify distinct trajectories of anxiety and depression among partners and caregivers of cancer survivors and predictors of these trajectories.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants completed a survey to examine the impact of caring for, or living with, a cancer survivor at 6, 12, and 24 months post-survivor diagnosis. Anxiety and depression were measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (N(anxiety) = 510; N(depression) = 511).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anxiety trajectories included: no anxiety (15.1% scored <3; 37.8% scored 3-5); chronic, borderline anxiety (33.2%); and chronic, clinical anxiety (13.9%). The depression trajectories were: no depression (38.9% scored <2; 31.5% scored around 3); a sustained score of 7 (25.5%); and chronic, clinical depression (4.1%). Variables associated with the trajectories included most of the psychosocial variables.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings highlight that most caregivers maintained their baseline level of distress, which is particularly concerning for participants reporting chronic anxiety or depression.
authors: Translational Cancer Research Unit, Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, South Western Sydney Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Liverpool BC, Australia. sylvie.d.lambert@gmail.com
authors: Sylvie D
authors: SD
authors: Lambert
authors: Bobby L
authors: BL
authors: Jones
authors: Afaf
authors: A
authors: Girgis
authors: Christophe
authors: C
authors: Lecathelinais
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology