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Traumatic Distress and Positive Changes in Advanced Cancer Patients

Pain Relief and Palliative Care Unit, Department of Radiology, Areteion Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece, mistakidou{at}yahoo.com

Efi Parpa, BA, MA

Pain Relief and Palliative Care Unit, Department of Radiology,, Areteion Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece

Eleni Tsilika, BSc, MSc

Pain Relief and Palliative Care Unit, Department of Radiology,, Areteion Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece

Maria Pathiaki, MD

Pain Relief and Palliative Care Unit, Department of Radiology,, Areteion Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece

Antonis Galanos, BSc

Pain Relief and Palliative Care Unit, Department of Radiology,, Areteion Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece

Lambros Vlahos, MD, PhD

Radiology Department, Areteion Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece

This study investigated the traumatic distress and posttraumatic growth in 58 advanced cancer patients receiving palliative treatment in a Pain Relief and Palliative Care Unit. The patients completed the Greek version of the Impact of Events Scale-Revised and the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory. Statistically significant associations were found among Impact of Events Scale-RevisedGreek "Relating to Others" (r = 0.311, P = .017), "New Possibilities" ( r = 0.248, P = .050), and "Appreciation of Life" ( r = 0.419, P = .001), and the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory scores (r = 0.323, P = .013). Similarly, "Appreciation of Life" correlated significantly with "Avoidance" (r = 0.318, P = .015), "Intrusion" (r = 0.365, P = .005), and "Hyperarousal" (r = 0.398, P = .002). Statistically significant associations were also found between "Relating to Others" and "Intrusion" (r = 0.414, P = .001). The study concluded that in advanced cancer patients, the higher the impact event, the more improvement in their relationships with others, enhanced life appreciation, and more positive consequences after trauma.

Key Words: traumatic distress • posttraumatic growth • advanced cancer • palliative care

American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine®, Vol. 24, No. 4, 270-276 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/1049909107299917


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