Early Childhood Adversity and Its Associations with Anxiety, Depression, and Distress in Women with Breast Cancer

dc.contributor.authorMcFarland, D. C., Andreotti, C., Harris, K., Mandeli, J., Tiersten, A., & Holland, J.
dc.date.accessioned2017-04-18T19:40:43Z
dc.date.available2017-04-18T19:40:43Z
dc.date.issued2016
dc.description.abstractIntroduction: Certain vulnerability factors have been found to place patients at risk for depression and anxiety, especially within the context of medical illness. Early childhood adversity (ECA) primes adults to become more vulnerable to depression by enhancing their reactivity to stress; this relationship is not adequately described in patients with breast cancer. Methods: Breast cancer patients (Stage 0-IV) were assessed for ECA (i.e., the Risky Families Questionnaire [RFQ]-subscales include Abuse/Neglect/Chaotic Home Environment), distress (i.e., Distress Thermometer and Problem List [DT&PL]), anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety [HADS-A]), depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Depression [HADS-D]), meeting standardized cut-off thresholds for distress (DT&PL ≥4 or ≥7)/anxiety (HADS-A ≥8)/depression (HADS-D ≥8), and demographic factors. Results: One hundred twenty-five participants completed the study (78% response rate). ECA was associated with depression (p<.001), anxiety (p=.001), and distress (p=.006) and with meeting cut-off threshold criteria for distress (p=.024), anxiety (p=.048), and depression (p=.001). On Multivariate analysis, only depression (p=.04) and emotional issues (i.e, component of DT&PL)(p=.001) were associated with ECA. Neglect, but not Abuse and Chaotic Home Environment, was associated with depression (β=.442, p<.001), anxiety (β=.342, p=.002), and self-identified problems with family (β−.288, p=.022), emotion (β=.345, p=.004), and physical issues (β=.408, p<.001). Conclusion: ECA and neglect are associated with multiple psychological symptoms but most specifically depression in the setting of breast cancer. ECA contributes to psychological burden as a vulnerability factor. ECA may help to explain individual patient trajectories and influence the provision of patient centered care for psychological symptoms in patients with breast cancer. (Author Abstract)en_US
dc.identifier.citationMcFarland, D. C., Andreotti, C., Harris, K., Mandeli, J., Tiersten, A., & Holland, J. (2016). Early childhood adversity and its associations with anxiety, depression, and distress in women with breast cancer. Psychosomatics, 57(2), 174-184.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5023013/pdf/nihms-810297.pdf
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11212/3310
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publishersychosomaticsen_US
dc.subjectchild abuseen_US
dc.subjectlong term effectsen_US
dc.subjectmedical complicationsen_US
dc.subjectresearchen_US
dc.titleEarly Childhood Adversity and Its Associations with Anxiety, Depression, and Distress in Women with Breast Canceren_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

Files