title: Perception of treatment burden, psychological distress, and fatigue in thyroid cancer patients and their partners - effects of gender, role, and time since diagnosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to examine diagnosis and treatment burden as well as psychological distress (anxiety and depression) and fatigue in thyroid cancer patients and their partners, focusing on the effects of gender, role, and time since diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-one patients diagnosed and treated for differentiated thyroid cancer within the past 7 years, participated in this online study, as well as 40 partners. Standardized questionnaires were used rating anxiety, depression, fatigue, and quality of life. Suffering in the context of diagnosis and treatment was evaluated using numeric analog scales. Patients' most recent hormone status was integrated into analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Male and female patients but not their partners had significantly higher mean anxiety scores (p < 0.001) than the norm. Severe fatigue that warrants observation and treatment was reported by two of 21 male patients (9.5%), 12 of 50 female patients (24%), two of 28 male partners (7.1%), and no female partners. With respect to diagnosis and treatment burden, female partners expressed the highest burden, while male patients expressed the lowest. This burden was associated with current fatigue levels in male patients and with current anxiety, depression, and fatigue levels in female patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although both patients and partners suffer from the diagnosis and treatment of differentiated thyroid cancer, only patients are at risk of developing anxiety symptoms or fatigue. A simple question like 'How did being told you have thyroid cancer affect you?' might successfully screen for patients who are at risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Drabe
authors.affiliation: Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Medical Radiology, University Hospital of Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Steinert
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Hanspeter
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moergeli
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Steffi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weidt
authors.affiliation: Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Medical Radiology, Hospital of Luzern, Luzern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Strobel
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jenewein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012737:Sex Factors; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy