title: Prevalence and Positive Correlates of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms among Chinese Patients with Hematological Malignancies: A Cross-Sectional Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Positive psychological constructs have been given increasing attention in research on the coping resources of cancer-related distresses. However, little research is available on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in patients with hematological malignancies. The purposes of this study were to assess the prevalence of PTSD symptoms and to explore the associations of perceived social support (PSS), hope, optimism and resilience with PTSD symptoms among Chinese patients with hematological malignancies.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted during the period from July 2013 through April 2014. A total of 225 inpatients with hematological malignancies, which were eligible for the study, completed the Post-traumatic Stress Checklist-Civilian Version, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Adult Hope Scale, Life Orientation Scale-Revised, and Resilience Scale. Hierarchical regression analysis was performed to explore the correlates of PTSD symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, the prevalence of PTSD symptoms was 10.7%. Initially, PSS was negatively associated with PTSD symptoms (β = -0.248, P < 0.01). However, when positive psychological variables were added, optimism was negatively associated with PTSD symptoms (β = -0.452, P < 0.01), and gender had a significant effect on PTSD symptoms. Women were more vulnerable to these symptoms than men (β = 0.123, P < 0.05). When the analysis was performed separately by gender, only optimism showed a significantly negative association with PTSD symptoms in both men (β = -0.389, P < 0.01) and women (β = -0.493, P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Some patients with hematological malignancies suffer from PTSD symptoms. The positive effects of PSS and optimism on PTSD symptoms suggest that an integrated approach to psychosocial intervention from both external and internal perspectives could have practical significance. Gender difference should be considered in developing potential interventions in reducing cancer-related PTSD symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yi-Long
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zi-Yue
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D055500:Resilience, Psychological; D012944:Social Support; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult