Chronic Stress, Depression and Immunity in Spouses of Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients
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| Title: | Chronic Stress, Depression and Immunity in Spouses of Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Mortimer, Jane S. Blake, Sephton, Sandra E., Kimerling, Rachel, Butler, Lisa, Bernstein, Aaron S., Spiegel, David |
| Source: | Clinical Psychologist. Nov 2005 9(2):59-63. |
| Availability: | Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 5 |
| Publication Date: | 2005 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Spouses, Cancer, Identification, Patients, Psychology, Depression (Psychology), Stress Variables, Chronic Illness, Psychological Patterns, Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Females, Correlation, Coping, Mental Health, Physical Health, Males |
| Assessment and Survey Identifiers: | Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale |
| DOI: | 10.1080/13284200500221094 |
| ISSN: | 1328-4207 |
| Abstract: | Objective: The objective of this study was to examine how the chronicity of stress affects psychological stress-responses, depressive symptoms, and "in vivo" immunocompetence in spouses of women with metastatic breast cancer. Methods: Participants were 34 spouses of breast cancer patients. Their wives had been living with a diagnosis of recurrence metastatic breast cancer for a mean of 2.3 (SD = 3.6) years. Stress chronicity was defined as the length of time since the partner's diagnosis with metastatic breast cancer. Self-reports of psychological stress responses (IES) and depression (CES-D) were taken, and in vivo immunocompetence was assessed by delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses to skin test antigens. Results: Clinically significant levels of depressive symptoms (CES-D greater than 16) were reported in 15% of participants. Suppression of the DTH response was greater in men who had been living longer with an ill spouse (Spearman r = -0.39, p = 0.011), those who reported more psychological stress (r = 0.37, p = 0.16), and those who had more severe depressive symptoms (r = -0.28, p = 0.054). There was no association between the duration of disease and spouse's depression, however, those who had been living longer with an ill partner reported less psychological stress. Conclusions: This study substantiates a relationship between depression and cell-mediated immunity in spouses with a seriously ill partner. Further, these results suggest that the duration of stress is an important factor of stress-induced immunosuppression. They also highlight the potential importance of interventions to alleviate depression among family members of cancer patients. (Contains 1 table.) |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Number of References: | 34 |
| Entry Date: | 2008 |
| Accession Number: | EJ814714 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Objective: The objective of this study was to examine how the chronicity of stress affects psychological stress-responses, depressive symptoms, and "in vivo" immunocompetence in spouses of women with metastatic breast cancer. Methods: Participants were 34 spouses of breast cancer patients. Their wives had been living with a diagnosis of recurrence metastatic breast cancer for a mean of 2.3 (SD = 3.6) years. Stress chronicity was defined as the length of time since the partner's diagnosis with metastatic breast cancer. Self-reports of psychological stress responses (IES) and depression (CES-D) were taken, and in vivo immunocompetence was assessed by delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses to skin test antigens. Results: Clinically significant levels of depressive symptoms (CES-D greater than 16) were reported in 15% of participants. Suppression of the DTH response was greater in men who had been living longer with an ill spouse (Spearman r = -0.39, p = 0.011), those who reported more psychological stress (r = 0.37, p = 0.16), and those who had more severe depressive symptoms (r = -0.28, p = 0.054). There was no association between the duration of disease and spouse's depression, however, those who had been living longer with an ill partner reported less psychological stress. Conclusions: This study substantiates a relationship between depression and cell-mediated immunity in spouses with a seriously ill partner. Further, these results suggest that the duration of stress is an important factor of stress-induced immunosuppression. They also highlight the potential importance of interventions to alleviate depression among family members of cancer patients. (Contains 1 table.) |
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| ISSN: | 1328-4207 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/13284200500221094 |
