Robert Nishimoto

Social relations, social support and survival among patients with cancer

This study examined the relationship between social relationships and social support and survival following a first diagnosis of breast, colorectal, or lung cancer. Findings showed different factors related to survival for those with breast vs lung or colorectal cancer and for those with localized vs non-localized cancers. Results provide important evidence that social relations and social support may operate differently depending on cancer site and extent of disease.

A longitudinal analysis of psychological adaptation among. Survivors of cancer

This longitudinal study examined the psychological adaptation of newly diagnosed cancer patients. Findings showed a decline in patients mental health status over time. Initial psychological status and other psychosocial factors, and not illness‐related factors, were predictive of subsequent adaptation. Two psychologically vulnerable patient groups were identified: those who remained distressed over time and those whose mental health status declined over time.

Longitudinal analysis of psychological adaptation among family members of patients with cancer

A growing body of research suggests that a cancer diagnosis reverberates throughout the family system. The majority of studies provide evidence of the psychological distress experienced by family members at the time of diagnosis and during terminal and early bereavement stages. Increasingly, however, patients survive a cancer diagnosis. Therefore, their experience and that of family members more closely approximates living with a chronic illness. In this longitudinal study of 143 pairs of patients and significant others it was found that a substantial minority of significant others experienced psychological distress up to one year after the patients initial diagnosis. The psychologically vulnerable group of significant others included an initially poor functioning group who remained so over time as well as a group whose mental health status declined over time. Personal and social resources were more important factors in declining mental health than illness-related factors.

Predicting Treatment Retention of Women Dependent on Cocaine

The purpose of this research was (a) to assess differences in retention patterns and discharge status across three program settings; and (b) to examine selected pretreatment characteristics that might help predict treatment retention, which was operationalized as length of time in treatment. Three groups of pretreatment characteristics were examined. They included demographic factors, drug use and treatment history, and psychological status and symptomology. Clients in the intensive day treatment program tended to stay longer and were more likely to successfully complete the program than either clients in the outpatient or the traditional residential programs. In general, pretreatment client characteristics were not helpful in predicting length of time in treatment regardless of program type. Few pretreatment characteristics were related to retention within programs and significant predictors differed across treatment settings.

COERCION AND DRUG TREATMENT FOR POSTPARTUM WOMEN

This research examined the extent to which various indicators of coercion were related to treatment retention in a gender-specific treatment program and a traditional outpatient program for pregnant and postpartum women who were mandated to enter treatment. Women who were given custody of their infant stayed in treatment longer than women who did not have custody. There was an interaction effect with women who had custody and were in the intensive day treatment program completing treatment at a much higher rate than those in the traditional program. Implications for social work professionals and policy makers are discussed.

Coping Resources in Adaptation to Cancer: Socioeconomic and Racial Differences

This study examined the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and race and adaptation to a diagnosis of breast, colorectal, or lung cancer. A group of 369 patients were interviewed within 3-6 months of diagnosis. Nonillness-related stress, social support, coping strategies, and psychological adaptation were found to vary by race and SES. Moreover, relationships between coping resources and adaptation varied by sociocultural group.

Barriers to Engaging and Retaining African- American Post-Partum Women in Drug Treatment:

Little is known about barriers to engaging and retaining African-American women in drug treatment. This descriptive study addressed three questions regarding barriers to substance abuse treatment for African-American women: What barriers made it difficult for women to participate in treatment? Did identified barriers differ by program modality? To what degree were barriers related to treatment retention? Findings revealed that barriers considered to be internal in nature, i.e., “drug severity,” “did not feel like going,” and “felt I could manage on my own,” were most frequently reported. Only a few program-related barriers were found to be related to length of time in treatment and both internal and programmatic barriers had an effect on treatment completion. Implications for policy decisions, future research, and clinical competence in addressing barriers to treatment for African-American women are discussed.

Who Drops Out of Drug-User Treatment Research on Women?

Attrition or dropping out is an important methodological issue in drug-user treatment research. The purpose of this study was to describe and explain the degree of subject attrition-more specifically, postinclusion attrition-within the context of a research demonstration project which focused on a womens sensitive approach to drug-user treatment. Demographic variables, psychosocial outcome measures, and two treatment variables were examined as possible predictors of attrition from research participation. Findings showed attrition rates increased from admission, peaked at 3-month follow-up, and then declined substantially by the 12-month follow-up period. A logistic regression analysis showed only treatment discharge status to significantly predict subject attrition.

The course of depressive symptoms over time for women who completed drug treatment

The purpose of the present study was to (a) describe the trend in depressive symptoms in a sample of postpartum women who used cocaine and who completed drug treatment; and (b) to examine possible correlates of those trends including treatment type and selected pretreatment characteristics. Self-reported levels of depressive symptoms improved from treatment entry to discharge and remained relatively stable through three postdischarge follow-up points. Baseline level of depression was the only pretreatment factor that was correlated with the trend in depressive symptoms. And length of time in treatment, previous drug treatment, and baseline severity of drug use were not.