title: Chemotherapy and cognitive complaints in women with breast cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Results of existing studies are inconclusive concerning the relationship between chemotherapy and subjective cognitive functioning (SCF). The aim of this study was to evaluate SCF of breast cancer (BC) patients and to find predictors of impaired SCF. Both satisfaction and frequency of complaints about SCF were measured.
  
  
  METHODS
  BC patients who were about to receive chemotherapy (N = 74) and patients with a benign breast disease (BBD) (N = 63) participated. Before chemotherapy started (Time 1) and 3 months after ending chemotherapy (and at comparable moments for the BBD group) (Time 2), women completed validated questionnaires concerning the frequency of complaints and satisfaction with SCF, fatigue, perceived stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No differences were found between the BBD and BC patients concerning the frequency of complaints about SCF across time. Satisfaction with SCF decreased across time in BC patients but remained stable across time in BBD patients (p < 0.001; p = 0.003 after controlling for state anxiety and perceived stress). Correlation coefficients between the satisfaction and the frequency of complaints about SCF ranged between -0.26 and -0.49. Depressive symptoms and satisfaction with SCF (Time 1) predicted the frequency of complaints about SCF (Time 2). Diagnosis, frequency of complaints about SCF, and state anxiety (Time 1) predicted satisfaction with SCF (Time 2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BC patients do not differ in the frequency of complaints about SCF compared with BBD patients, but their satisfaction with SCF decreased after treatment. Psychological factors predicted the frequency of complaints about SCF. Psychological factors and diagnosis predicted satisfaction with SCF.
authors.affiliation: CoRPS Center of Research on Psychology in Somatic Diseases, Department of Medical Psychology, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marleen J J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Pullens
authors.forename: Jolanda
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: De Vries
authors.forename: Laurence J C
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Van Warmerdam
authors.forename: Marieke A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Van De Wal
authors.forename: Jan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Roukema
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
keywords: breast cancer; cancer; chemotherapy; cognitive complaints; oncology; subjective cognitive functioning