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Caregivers of cancer patients often suffer from PTSD
Every year, millions of family members and friends care for loved ones undergoing cancer treatment, often with great emotional strain. A new review published this week in Archives of Geriatrics and Gerontology Plus confirms that such caregiving can have a negative impact on caregivers’ mental health. According to the review, most studies show that more than 15% of those who care for loved ones with cancer suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
“Caregivers continue to receive inadequate psychosocial support in oncology, leaving many without the support they need.”
Elizaveta Klekovkina, lead author, social worker in the Supportive Care Unit at the Princess Margaret Cancer Center
A comprehensive review of the literature showed that the risk of developing PTSD was higher in caregivers of patients with pre-existing mental illness, lower levels of social support, and higher caregiver burden. In addition, patient-related factors such as severity of illness, severity of symptoms, and perceived likelihood of death also contributed to caregiver stress.
“Identifying these risk factors is important for developing targeted interventions to prevent and alleviate traumatic stress in caregivers,” said study co-author Maya Stern, also a social worker in the supportive care unit at the Princess Margaret Cancer Center.
The study also found that caregivers of patients with head and neck cancer or acute leukemia were at the highest risk, with up to 37% meeting criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder.
The most common symptoms of PTSD were intrusive thoughts and increased anxiety. Unlike other forms of trauma, avoidance, usually a key symptom of PTSD, was not possible because caregivers were still actively involved in their loved one’s cancer treatment.
The review found 23 studies that examined the relationship between traumatic stress and caregivers of adult cancer patients. However, most of the published studies were cross-sectional, with small sample sizes and a lack of racial and gender diversity.
“We were surprised to find so few studies addressing traumatic stress in caregivers of adult cancer patients,” the researchers said. – “There is a critical need for further research to close this gap in the literature and to develop proactive, evidence-based interventions to better integrate support for caregivers of cancer patients.
Better support will require more active monitoring, researchers say.
If left unaddressed, traumatic stress in caregivers can have long-term consequences for their mental and physical health. The high prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder among adult caregivers of cancer patients underscores the need to provide early support, especially at key times such as diagnosis, relapse, or transition from one treatment to another.
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