Perioperative risk factors of psychological distress in patients undergoing treatment for esophageal cancer.
BACKGROUND
Esophageal cancer patients often feel depressed and are fearful of metastasis and death. The objective of this study was to clarify the characteristics of patients with psychological distress at all 5 time points compared with patients with no psychological distress especially from standpoints of personal coping styles and QOL.


METHODS
In total, 102 of 152 consecutive patients who attended the outpatient clinic at Toranomon Hospital between April 2017 and April 2019 met eligibility criteria for inclusion in this study. Questionnaires designed to identify psychological distress (HADS-scores) and assess QOL (EORTC QLQ C-30/OES18) were administered at 5 time points from the time of the first outpatient consultation to 3 months after esophagectomy. The questionnaire of coping strategies (MAC-scales) was administered at only time 1 point.


RESULTS
Based on the trends of HADS-scores, we defined two groups: "persistent high-HAD scores" and "persistent low-HADS scores." There are strong relationships between psychological distress and coping strategy, and psychological distress and QOL. The possibility that there are relationships between stress coping strategies and some QOL status depending on some point of treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The psychological distress during the treatment course of esophageal cancer is significantly associated with the coping strategies and QOL influenced by esophagectomy. This study can provide baseline information for identifying patients in need of psychological management and paves the way for larger clinical studies in the future.
['Ohkura|Yu|Y|http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5073-5596', 'Shindoh|Junichi|J|', 'Ichikura|Kanako|K|', 'Udagawa|Harushi|H|', 'Ueno|Masaki|M|', 'Matsushima|Eisuke|E|']
D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms D006801:Humans D011379:Prognosis D000079225:Psychological Distress D011788:Quality of Life D012307:Risk Factors D013315:Stress, Psychological D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Psychological distress Esophageal cancer Coping Health-related quality of life Predictive factors