The influence of sense of control and cognitive functioning in older cancer patients' depression. Issue 3 (1st August 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mystakidou, Kyriaki; Tsilika, Eleni; Parpa, Efi; Galanos, Antonis
• Is Part Of: Psycho-oncology. Volume 24:Issue 3(2015)
• Page Start: 311
• Page End: 317
• Publication Date: 2014-08-01
• Subjects: Cancer -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Neoplasms -- psychology -- Periodicals; 616.9940019
• DOI: 10.1002/pon.3642
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1057-9249

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="pon3642-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>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.</p> </sec> <sec id="pon3642-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>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.</p> </sec> <sec id="pon3642-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Higher perceived control over the 'course of illness' was associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms (<italic>p</italic> < 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 (<italic>p</italic> = 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that whereas an external orientation in 'course of illness' increased the likelihood of depression (<italic>p</italic> = 0.002), an external orientation in 'cause of illness' decreased the likelihood of depression (<italic>p</italic> = 0.05).</p> </sec> <sec id="pon3642-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Older cancer patients' sense of control orientation over the course of illness and the cause of illness predicted the levels of depressive symptomatology. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.</p> </sec> </abstract>