title: The influence of sense of control and cognitive functioning in older cancer patients' depression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to evaluate the associations between depression, sense of control, and cognitive functioning, as well as the predictive power of sense of control and cognitive functioning in older cancer patients' depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-six cancer patients were referred to a palliative care unit. They completed the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale, the Cancer Locus of Control, and the Mini Mental State Examination questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher perceived control over the 'course of illness' was associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms (p < 0.0005), whereas lower perceived control over the 'cause of illness' was associated with higher depressive symptoms. The same results were found for 'cause of illness' between non-depressed and depressed patients (p = 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that whereas an external orientation in 'course of illness' increased the likelihood of depression (p = 0.002), an external orientation in 'cause of illness' decreased the likelihood of depression (p = 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Older cancer patients' sense of control orientation over the course of illness and the cause of illness predicted the levels of depressive symptomatology.
authors.affiliation: Pain Relief and Palliative Care Unit, Department of Radiology, Areteion Hospital, School of Medicine, Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Kyriaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mystakidou
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tsilika
authors.forename: Efi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Parpa
authors.forename: Antonis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Galanos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D010166:Palliative Care; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
keywords: cancer; cognitive function; depression; elderly; locus of control; oncology