IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i5p2318-d506811.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Mental Health Burden of German Cancer Patients before and after the Outbreak of COVID-19: Predictors of Mental Health Impairment

Author

Listed:
  • Alexander Bäuerle

    (Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, LVR-University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
    West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
    Venja Musche and Alexander Bäuerle should be considered joint first author.)

  • Venja Musche

    (Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, LVR-University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
    West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
    Venja Musche and Alexander Bäuerle should be considered joint first author.)

  • Kira Schmidt

    (Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, LVR-University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
    West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany)

  • Adam Schweda

    (Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, LVR-University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
    West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany)

  • Madeleine Fink

    (Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, LVR-University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
    West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany)

  • Benjamin Weismüller

    (Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, LVR-University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
    West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany)

  • Hannah Kohler

    (Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, LVR-University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
    West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany)

  • Ken Herrmann

    (West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
    Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany)

  • Mitra Tewes

    (West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
    Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany)

  • Dirk Schadendorf

    (West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
    Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany)

  • Eva-Maria Skoda

    (Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, LVR-University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
    West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
    Eva-Maria Skoda and Martin Teufel should be considered joint senior author.)

  • Martin Teufel

    (Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, LVR-University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
    West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
    Eva-Maria Skoda and Martin Teufel should be considered joint senior author.)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze individual changes in cancer patients’ mental health before and after the COVID-19 outbreak, and to explore predictors of mental health impairment. Over a two-week period (16–30 March 2020), 150 cancer patients in Germany participated in this study. Validated instruments assessed demographic and medical data, depression and anxiety symptoms (PHQ-2, GAD-2), distress (DT), and health status (EQ-5D-3L). All instruments were adapted to measure the individual mental health before the COVID-19 outbreak. COVID-19-related fear, trust in governmental actions to face COVID-19, and the subjective level of information regarding COVID-19 were measured. Cancer patients showed a significant increase in depression and anxiety symptoms and distress, while health status deteriorated since the COVID-19 outbreak. Increased depression and generalized anxiety symptoms were predicted by COVID-19-related fear. Trust in governmental actions to face COVID-19 and COVID-19-related fear predicted increases in distress. Higher subjective levels of information predicted less increasing anxiety symptoms and distress. Present data suggests that cancer patients experienced a significant increase in mental health burden since the COVID-19 outbreak. Observed predictors of mental health impairment and protective factors should be addressed, and appropriate interventions established, to maintain mental health of cancer patients during the pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Alexander Bäuerle & Venja Musche & Kira Schmidt & Adam Schweda & Madeleine Fink & Benjamin Weismüller & Hannah Kohler & Ken Herrmann & Mitra Tewes & Dirk Schadendorf & Eva-Maria Skoda & Martin Teufel, 2021. "Mental Health Burden of German Cancer Patients before and after the Outbreak of COVID-19: Predictors of Mental Health Impairment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-12, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:5:p:2318-:d:506811
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/5/2318/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/5/2318/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cuiyan Wang & Riyu Pan & Xiaoyang Wan & Yilin Tan & Linkang Xu & Cyrus S. Ho & Roger C. Ho, 2020. "Immediate Psychological Responses and Associated Factors during the Initial Stage of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Epidemic among the General Population in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-25, March.
    2. Juan Gómez-Salgado & Montserrat Andrés-Villas & Sara Domínguez-Salas & Diego Díaz-Milanés & Carlos Ruiz-Frutos, 2020. "Related Health Factors of Psychological Distress During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Spain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-16, June.
    3. Ioulia Solomou & Fofi Constantinidou, 2020. "Prevalence and Predictors of Anxiety and Depression Symptoms during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Compliance with Precautionary Measures: Age and Sex Matter," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-19, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Yolanda Marcén-Román & Angel Gasch-Gallen & Irene Isabel Vela Martín de la Mota & Estela Calatayud & Isabel Gómez-Soria & Beatriz Rodríguez-Roca, 2021. "Stress Perceived by University Health Sciences Students, 1 Year after COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-10, May.
    2. Mateusz Ciski & Krzysztof Rząsa, 2023. "Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression in the Investigation of Local COVID-19 Anomalies Based on Population Age Structure in Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(10), pages 1-23, May.
    3. Edmond Pui Hang Choi & Bryant Pui Hung Hui & Eric Yuk Fai Wan & Jojo Yan Yan Kwok & Tiffany Hei Lam Tam & Chanchan Wu, 2021. "COVID-19 and Health-Related Quality of Life: A Community-Based Online Survey in Hong Kong," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-12, March.
    4. Philipp Bagus & José Antonio Peña-Ramos & Antonio Sánchez-Bayón, 2021. "COVID-19 and the Political Economy of Mass Hysteria," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-15, February.
    5. Marlene Camacho-Rivera & Jessica Yasmine Islam & Denise Christina Vidot & Sunit Jariwala, 2021. "Prevalence and Risk Factors of COVID-19 Symptoms among U.S. Adults with Allergies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-9, February.
    6. Adrianna Wielgopolan & Maciej Pastwa & Aleksandra Warkocka & Kamil Konrad Imbir, 2022. "Anyone but Me: Unrealistic Optimism, Emotions and Anxiety in the Face of COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-13, December.
    7. Brizeida Raquel Hernández-Sánchez & Giuseppina Maria Cardella & José Carlos Sánchez-García, 2020. "Psychological Factors that Lessen the Impact of COVID-19 on the Self-Employment Intention of Business Administration and Economics’ Students from Latin America," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-22, July.
    8. Daniel Lucheș & Despina Saghin & Maria-Magdalena Lupchian, 2021. "Public Perception of the First Major SARS-Cov-2 Outbreak in the Suceava County, Romania," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-16, February.
    9. Hosam Alzahrani & Fahad Alshehri & Muhsen Alsufiany & Hatem H. Allam & Rania Almeheyawi & Marwa M. Eid & Kabir P. Sadarangani, 2021. "Impact of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease Pandemic on Health-Related Quality of Life and Psychological Status: The Role of Physical Activity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-13, April.
    10. Krzysztof Rząsa & Mateusz Ciski, 2022. "Influence of the Demographic, Social, and Environmental Factors on the COVID-19 Pandemic—Analysis of the Local Variations Using Geographically Weighted Regression," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-26, September.
    11. Maria Shuk Yu Hung & Stanley Kam Ki Lam & Liliane Chui King Chan & Sisi Pui Shan Liu & Meyrick Chum Ming Chow, 2021. "The Psychological and Quality of Life Impacts on Women in Hong Kong during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-12, June.
    12. Ewa Kupcewicz & Marzena Mikla & Helena Kadučáková & Daria Schneider-Matyka & Elżbieta Grochans, 2022. "Health Behaviours and the Sense of Optimism in Nursing Students in Poland, Spain and Slovakia during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-15, February.
    13. Federica Andrei & Giacomo Mancini & Francesca Agostini & Maria Stella Epifanio & Marco Andrea Piombo & Martina Riolo & Vittoria Spicuzza & Erica Neri & Rosa Lo Baido & Sabina La Grutta & Elena Trombin, 2022. "Quality of Life and Job Loss during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Mediation by Hopelessness and Moderation by Trait Emotional Intelligence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-12, February.
    14. Sunhee Kim & Seoyong Kim, 2021. "Who Is Suffering from the “Corona Blues”? An Analysis of the Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Depression and Its Implications for Health Policy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-21, November.
    15. Maria Shuk Yu Hung & Liliane Chui King Chan & Sisi Pui Shan Liu, 2022. "The Health Impacts and Life Challenges Caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic on Hong Kong Chinese Women," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-15, April.
    16. Peng-Wei Wang & Nai-Ying Ko & Yu-Ping Chang & Chia-Fen Wu & Wei-Hsin Lu & Cheng-Fang Yen, 2020. "Subjective Deterioration of Physical and Psychological Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Taiwan: Their Association with the Adoption of Protective Behaviors and Mental Health Problems," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-18, September.
    17. Finiki Nearchou & Ellen Douglas, 2021. "Traumatic Distress of COVID-19 and Depression in the General Population: Exploring the Role of Resilience, Anxiety, and Hope," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-14, August.
    18. Costas N. Tsouloupas & Constantinos M. Kokkinos, 2023. "Mind, Body, and Pandemic: Understanding the Complex Relationships Between Subjective Well-Being, Physical Activity, and Perceived Multi-Dimensional COVID-19 Impact," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(4), pages 21582440231, November.
    19. María Pilar Jiménez & Jennifer A. Rieker & José Manuel Reales & Soledad Ballesteros, 2021. "COVID-19 Peritraumatic Distress as a Function of Age and Gender in a Spanish Sample," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-15, May.
    20. Óscar Rodríguez-Nogueira & Raquel Leirós-Rodríguez & José Alberto Benítez-Andrades & María José Álvarez-Álvarez & Pilar Marqués-Sánchez & Arrate Pinto-Carral, 2020. "Musculoskeletal Pain and Teleworking in Times of the COVID-19: Analysis of the Impact on the Workers at Two Spanish Universities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-12, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:5:p:2318-:d:506811. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.