Abducted by the illness: a qualitative study of traumatic stress in individuals with acute leukemia.
Symptoms of traumatic stress are common in acute leukemia. The goal of the present qualitative study was to understand this traumatic stress, as perceived by patients. Participants were 43 patients with acute leukemia in Toronto, Canada. Participants were asked in serial interviews about their experience of diagnosis and treatment. A total of 65 interviews were analyzed utilizing the grounded theory method. Our findings provide insight into the traumatic experience of the diagnosis and treatment, as well as the initial psychological response to this trauma. Patients coped by surrendering control to the medical team, in whom they felt great trust. Patients also expressed a strong preference for limited information, with a preference to avoid discussions about overall prognosis. These results may inform interventions to relieve traumatic stress in this high risk population.
Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada. rinat.nissim@uhn.ca
Rinat
R
Nissim
Camilla
C
Zimmermann
Mark
M
Minden
Anne
A
Rydall
Dora
D
Yuen
Ashley
A
Mischitelle
Lucia
L
Gagliese
Aaron
A
Schimmer
Gary
G
Rodin
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D007938:Leukemia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D040921:Stress Disorders, Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy