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Psychosocial Considerations

Psychosocial adjustment of patients and caregivers prior to allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 27, pages 1181–1188 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

There are many studies that examine the psychosocial adjustment of survivors of bone marrow transplantation (BMT). On the other hand, there are relatively few studies that examine the psychosocial adjustment of patients prior to BMT, and even fewer that focus on the psychosocial adjustment of the patient's caregiver. The purpose of the present study was to assess performance status and psychosocial adjustment to illness, mood and stress response of patients and caregivers prior to admission for allogeneic BMT. Forty patients and their 39 caregivers were assessed using standardized measures. One-fourth of the patients reported clinical levels of psychosocial maladjustment on the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale and had greater adjustment problems than BMT survivors. Approximately one-third (35%) and one-quarter (23%) of the patients reported significant symptoms of intrusive and avoidance stress responses, respectively on the Impact of Events Scale. Caregivers reported more impairments in family relationships than patients, but overall reported similar distress to that of patients. Information about the pre-BMT process appears to be critical to understanding the psychosocial impact that BMT can have on patients and their caregivers. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2001) 27, 1181–1188.

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Acknowledgements

This study was conducted at the University of Chicago and supported in part by the University of Chicago Home Health Care Grant. We would like to thank Dana Hagerman and Mitchell Robertson for their assistance with this project. We would also like to thank Sara Knight, PhD for her comments. Special thanks to the patients and their family members from the University of Chicago and Indiana University for participating in this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and VA Chicago Health Care System – Lakeside Division, Northwestern University Medical School, the Robert H Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chicago, USA

    AK Siston

  2. University of Chicago Cancer Research Center and Department of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA

    AK Siston, MA List, CK Daugherty & RA Larson

  3. Department of Medicine, Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    DM Banik, C Menke & K Cornetta

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  1. AK Siston
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  2. MA List
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  7. RA Larson
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Siston, A., List, M., Daugherty, C. et al. Psychosocial adjustment of patients and caregivers prior to allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant 27, 1181–1188 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1703059

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