title: Cancer-related PTSD symptoms in a veteran sample: association with age, combat PTSD, and quality of life.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The diagnosis and treatment of cancer is a potentially traumatic experience that may evoke posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) among survivors. This paper describes the rates of endorsement of cancer-related PTSS along with the relationship of demographic, cancer, and combat variables on PTSS and quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  Veterans (N = 166) with head and neck, esophageal, gastric, or colorectal cancers were recruited through tumor registries at two regional Veterans Administration Medical Centers. Standardized scales were used to assess self-report of PTSS, combat, and quality of life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most participants (86%) reported experiencing at least some cancer-related PTSS; 10% scored above a clinical cutoff for probable PTSD. In linear regressions, younger age and current combat PTSS were associated with cancer-related PTSS, whereas disease and treatment characteristics were not; in turn, cancer-related PTSS were negatively associated with physical and social quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Individual characteristics and psychosocial factors may play a larger role than disease-related variables in determining how an individual responds to the stress of cancer diagnosis and treatment. Given the rates of reported cancer-related PTSS in this sample, and other non-veteran samples, clinicians should consider screening these following diagnosis and treatment, particularly in younger adults and those with previous trauma histories.
authors: VA Boston Health Care System and Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
authors: Jennifer Schuster
authors: JS
authors: Wachen
authors: Seema M
authors: SM
authors: Patidar
authors: Elizabeth A
authors: EA
authors: Mulligan
authors: Aanand D
authors: AD
authors: Naik
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Moye
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: cancer; functioning; oncology; posttraumatic stress symptoms; quality of life; trauma