Madeline Li

Predictors of Referral for Specialized Psychosocial Oncology Care in Patients With Metastatic Cancer: The Contributions of Age, Distress, and Marital Status

PURPOSE This study examines the rate and prediction of referral for specialized psychosocial oncology care in 326 patients with metastatic GI or lung cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Referral information was abstracted from medical records and hospital databases. Patients completed measures of psychosocial and physical distress and functioning. RESULTS Routine referral occurred in 33% of patients, and in 42% and 44%, respectively, of those scoring high on measures of depression (Beck Depression Inventory [BDI]-II >or= 15) and hopelessness (Beck Hopelessness Scale >or= 8). Univariate analyses indicated that referral was associated with younger age, unmarried status, living alone, presence of more depressive symptoms, hopelessness, and attachment anxiety, and with less social support, self-esteem, and spiritual well-being (all P < .05). Among the significantly depressed (BDI-II >or= 15), 100% of those less than 40 years of age, but only 22% of those age 70 years or older were referred. Multivariate analyses indicated that referral was associated with younger age, unmarried status, and presence of more depressive symptoms. Moreover, increasing age was associated with a progressively lower likelihood of referral independent of the level of distress. CONCLUSION Routine referral of patients with metastatic cancer for psychosocial oncology care was predicted by presence of more severe depressive symptoms, younger age, and unmarried status. The rate of referral progressively declined with each decade of age, even among those with significant distress. These findings are consistent with some aspects of Andersens model of health care utilization. The extent to which referred patients represent those who are most likely to benefit deserves further investigation.

Older age is associated with similar quality of life and physical function compared to younger age during intensive chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia

We examined the quality of life (QOL) and physical function over the first three cycles of intensive chemotherapy in 103 newly diagnosed younger (18-59 years, n=64) and older adults (age 60 or older, n=39) with acute myeloid leukemia. Both QOL and physical function were worse than normative data. QOL was fairly stable over time and similar in both age groups, whereas physical function generally improved over time, although the improvement was somewhat greater in younger than older adults. Compared to younger adults, older adults tolerate intensive chemotherapy quite well from QOL and physical function perspectives.

Sources of spiritual well-being in advanced cancer

Objective To test a conceptual model of sources of spiritual well-being in patients facing life-limiting disease. Design Cross-sectional survey. Setting Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Canada. Participants 747 patients with stage IV gastrointestinal, breast, genitourinary or gynaecological cancer, or stage IIIA, IIIB or IV lung cancer, recruited from 2002 to 2008. Main outcome measure Spiritual well-being as assessed by the FACIT-Sp-12. Results Using structural equation modelling, spiritual well-being was specified as being predicted by religiosity, self-esteem, social relatedness and the physical burden of disease. The model had a good fit, Comparative Fit Index=0.96, Non-normed Fit Index=0.94, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation=0.057. Standardised path coefficients relating each factor to spiritual well-being were as follows: religiosity 0.50, social relatedness 0.28, self-esteem 0.26 and physical burden −0.11. Conclusions The authors confirmed our theoretical model in which spiritual well-being is positively associated with religiosity, self-esteem and social relatedness, and is negatively associated with physical suffering. Our findings support a multidimensional approach to spiritual well-being that addresses not only religious issues, but also pain and symptom control, and the potentially damaging effects of advanced disease on self-worth and close relationships. The spiritually informed clinical encounter may be one in which sufficient time and opportunity for reflection are afforded to consider illness trajectories and treatment decisions in the context of religious beliefs and personal values, self-worth, support systems and concerns about dependency.

Routine screening for suicidal intention in patients with cancer

Suicide rates are elevated in individuals with cancer, although suicidal intention is not typically assessed in cancer centers. We evaluated in a large comprehensive cancer center the utility of an electronic Distress Assessment and Response Tool (DART), in which suicidal intention is assessed with a single item.

The relationship between depression and physical symptom burden in advanced cancer

Background Although an association between depression and physical burden has been demonstrated in advanced cancer, it remains unclear to what extent this is limited to specific physical symptoms, such as pain and fatigue, and is mediated by disease and treatment-related factors. We therefore investigated the relationship between depression and physical burden across a multitude of physical symptoms in this population, while controlling for cancer-related factors including disease severity and proximity to death. Patients and methods A secondary analysis was performed on cross-sectional data in 487 patients with advanced cancer. Measures included the Beck Depression Inventory II and the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale, which measured physical burden across 24 common cancer symptoms. Disease severity was assessed by survival time and by functional status using the Karnofsky Performance Status scale. Results Depression severity significantly correlated with number of physical symptoms, symptom distress and symptom severity independent of cancer type, functional status, chemotherapy status and survival time (all p<0.001). Depression was associated with increased incidence, severity and distress across multiple physical symptoms and was an independent predictor of physical burden on multiple regression analysis. Conclusions These findings support the view that a synergistic relationship exists between depression and a broad array of physical symptoms in patients with advanced cancer.

Managing Cancer And Living Meaningfully (CALM): randomised feasibility trial in patients with advanced cancer.

Background Managing Cancer And Living Meaningfully (CALM) is a brief individual psychotherapy for patients with advanced cancer. In an intervention-only phase 2a trial, CALM showed promising results, leading to the present 2b pilot, which introduces procedures for randomisation and improved rigour in preparation for a phase 3 randomised controlled trial (RCT). Aims To test trial methodology and assess feasibility of a confirmatory RCT. Design A parallel-arm RCT (intervention vs usual care) with 3 and 6-month follow-ups. Assessment of feasibility included rates of consent, randomisation, attrition, intervention non-compliance and usual care contamination. Primary outcome: depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9; PHQ-9). Secondary outcomes: major depressive disorder (MDD), generalised anxiety, death anxiety, spiritual well-being, attachment anxiety and avoidance, self-esteem, experiential avoidance, quality of life and post-traumatic growth. Bayesian conjugate analysis was used in this low-powered setting. Setting/participants 60 adult patients with advanced cancer from the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Results Rate of consent was 32%, randomisation 78%, attrition 25%, non-compliance 37% and contamination 17%. There was support for potential treatment effects on: PHQ-9, OR=1.48, 95% Credible Interval (CRI.95) (0.65, 3.38); MDD, OR=1.56, CRI.95 (0.50, 4.84); attachment anxiety, OR=1.72, CRI.95 (0.73, 4.03); and attachment avoidance, OR=1.58, CRI.95 (0.67, 3.71). There was no support for effects on the seven remaining secondary outcomes. Conclusions A phase 3 CALM RCT is feasible and should aim to detect effect sizes of d=0.40, with greater attention to issues of compliance and contamination. Trial registration number NCT02353546.

Maintaining the will to live of patients with advanced cancer.

The will to live is a natural instinct experienced by all human beings. It tends to persist in humans, despite marked adversity such as that associated with advanced cancer. The will to live may be measured directly, or indirectly, by assessing the desire for hastened death. Factors that may affect it include age, life stage, and physical and psychological distress. In particular, states of depression and hopelessness may precede the loss of the will to live. Other psychosocial variables that may affect the will to live include physical suffering, attachment security, self-esteem, and spiritual well-being. A number of screening tools are available to identify risk factors for the loss of the will to live. Awareness of these factors can guide interventions to preserve morale and maintain hope in patients faced with a terminal illness. Critical among these are the alleviation of physical and psychosocial distress and the establishment of a therapeutic alliance that is sensitive to the specific support needs of individual patients. Comfort and facility with such supportive interventions in oncology will require greater attention to the development of communication and relationship skills at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels of training.

Managing Cancer And Living Meaningfully: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundWe have developed a novel and brief semi-structured psychotherapeutic intervention for patients with advanced or metastatic cancer, called Managing Cancer And Living Meaningfully. We describe here the methodology of a randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of this treatment to alleviate distress and promote well-being in this population.Methods/DesignThe study is an unblinded randomized controlled trial with 2 conditions (intervention plus usual care versus usual care alone) and assessments at baseline, 3 and 6 months. The site is the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, part of the University Health Network, in Toronto, Canada. Eligibility criteria include: ≥ 18 years of age; English fluency; no cognitive impairment; and diagnosis of advanced cancer. The 3–6 session intervention is manualized and allows for flexibility to meet individual patients’ needs. It is delivered over a 3–6 month period and provides reflective space for patients (and their primary caregivers) to address 4 main domains: symptom management and communication with health care providers; changes in self and relations with close others; sense of meaning and purpose; and the future and mortality. Usual care at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre includes distress screening and referral as required to in-hospital psychosocial and palliative care services. The primary outcome is frequency of depressive symptoms and the primary endpoint is at 3 months. Secondary outcomes include diagnosis of major or minor depression, generalized anxiety, death anxiety, spiritual well-being, quality of life, demoralization, attachment security, posttraumatic growth, communication with partners, and satisfaction with clinical interactions.DiscussionManaging Cancer And Living Meaningfully has the potential to relieve distress and promote psychological well-being in patients with advanced cancer and their primary caregivers. This trial is being conducted to determine its benefit and inform its dissemination. The intervention has cross-national relevance and training workshops have been held thus far with clinicians from North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT01506492 4 January 2012.

Medical Assistance in Dying — Implementing a Hospital-Based Program in Canada

After Canada legalized medical assistance in dying (MAiD), the University Health Network in Toronto implemented a hospital-based MAiD program. UHN offers a framework for assessing patients for and providing MAiD while respecting the rights of patients and staff.

A pilot, open-label, 8-week study evaluating the efficacy, safety and tolerability of adjunctive minocycline for the treatment of bipolar I/II depression

The objectives of the study were to determine if adjunctive minocycline mitigates depressive symptom severity and improves cognitive function in individuals with bipolar I/II disorder (BD). The study also aimed to determine if changes in depressive and/or cognitive symptoms over the course of treatment were associated with changes in circulating inflammatory cytokine levels.