Cancer-related fatigue in breast cancer patients: Factor mixture models with continuous non-normal distributions

postprin

Effects of a Short-Term Dance Movement Therapy Program on Symptoms and Stress in Patients With Breast Cancer Undergoing Radiotherapy: A Randomized, Controlled, Single-Blind Trial

Context: Integrated interventions with combined elements of body movement and psychotherapy on treatment-related symptoms in cancer patients are relatively scarce. Objectives: The aim of the present study is to investigate the effectiveness of dance movement therapy (DMT) on improving treatment-related symptoms in a randomized controlled trial. Methods: A total of 139 Chinese patients with breast cancer awaiting adjuvant radiotherapy were randomized to DMT or control group. The intervention included six 1.5-hour DMT sessions provided twice a week over the course of radiotherapy. Self-report measures on perceived stress, anxiety, depression, fatigue, pain, sleep disturbance, and quality of life were completed before and after the three-week program. Results: DMT showed significant effects on buffering the deterioration in perceived stress, pain severity, and pain interference (Cohen d = 0.34–0.36, P  0.05). Conclusion: The short-term DMT program can counter the anticipated worsening of stress and pain in women with breast cancer during radiotherapy.postprin

Supporting women throughout the postpartum period: marital satisfaction and their emotional health

Conference Theme: Women's Health through the Life Cycle: the Asia PerspectivesPoster Presentation: no. 2postprintThe 10th Anniversary Symposium of the Centre of Research and Promotion of Women's Health, School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 2-3 March 2011. In Symposium Abstract Book, 2011, p. 4

Tai-chi for residential patients with schizophrenia on movement coordination, negative symptoms, and functioning: a pilot randomized controlled trial

Objective. Patients with schizophrenia residing at institutions often suffer from negative symptoms, motor, and functional impairments more severe than their noninstitutionalized counterparts. Tai-chi emphasizes body relaxation, alertness, and movement coordination with benefits to balance, focus, and stress relief. This pilot study explored the efficacy of Tai-chi on movement coordination, negative symptoms, and functioning disabilities towards schizophrenia. Methods. A randomized waitlist control design was adopted, where participants were randomized to receive either the 6-week Tai-chi program and standard residential care or only the latter. 30 Chinese patients with schizophrenia were recruited from a rehabilitation residency. All were assessed on movement coordination, negative symptoms, and functional disabilities at baseline, following intervention and 6 weeks after intervention. Results. Tai-chi buffered from deteriorations in movement coordination and interpersonal functioning, the latter with sustained effectiveness 6 weeks after the class was ended. Controls showed marked deteriorations in those areas. The Tai-chi group also experienced fewer disruptions to life activities at the 6-week maintenance. There was no significant improvement in negative symptoms after Tai-chi. Conclusions. This study demonstrated encouraging benefits of Tai-chi in preventing deteriorations in movement coordination and interpersonal functioning for residential patients with schizophrenia. The ease of implementation facilitates promotion at institutional psychiatric services.published_or_final_versio

Trajectory of Postpartum Depression and Coping Style Among Chinese Women in Hong Kong: A Prospective Longitudinal Study

Paper PresentationConference Theme: Research for Social Change: Addressing Local and Global ChallengesSession 53 [G]: Pregnancy and MotherhoodBackground and Purpose: Past studies in the West show that the time of postpartum depression (PPD) onset varies among women, and that the level of PPD changes over time. However, most studies on Chinese women documented depression levels up to 6 weeks postpartum only, and often with single time point. The current study attempted to examine the trajectories of PPD among Chinese women by (a) examining their depression from first trimester to 6 months postpartum; and (b) investigating whether coping style predicts PD trajectories. Methods This was a prospective longitudinal study. Predominantly ethnic Chinese pregnant women at first trimester of pregnancy (N = 361) were recruited at a public hospital in Hong Kong. Upon giving consent, they were asked to complete the questionnaire at the clinic (T0), and to return mail-in questionnaires at 6 weeks postpartum (T1) and 6 months postpartum (T2). Depression was measured by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and coping style was measured by Ways of Coping Questionnaire (WCQ). By the end of the study, 104 women completed all three questionnaires. Results The prevalence of PPD, indicated by EPDS cutoff score of 10 or greater, was 18% at T0, 28% at T1 and 24% at T2. Among them, 63% displayed no PPD at both postpartum time points (non-depressed), 13% displayed PPD at T1 but not T2 (recovery), 9% displayed PPD at T2 but not T1 (late onset), and 15% displayed PPD at both time points (sustained). Logistic regression showed that controlling for depression at T0, distancing, seeking social support and wishful thinking were related to sustained PPD group (odds ratio: 0.58, 0.66 and 1.71 respectively; 95% CI: 0.34-0.97, 0.49-0.88 and 1.16-2.53 respectively, all ps < .05) but not recovery nor late onset group. Conclusion and Implications The study showed women displayed different trajectories of PPD, namely non-depressed, recovery, late onset and sustained. The current PPD prevalence findings were comparable to past studies in Hong Kong, but higher compared to other Chinese populations in Beijing and Taiwan. The study also suggested coping style may predict the trajectory of postpartum depression. Early identification of maladaptive coping style could be conducive in preventing postpartum depression

Effects of Dance Movement Therapy on subjective stress and cortisol slope among breast cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy

Background: Breast cancer patients are at risk for psychosocial distress, which may lead to neuroendocrine dysfunction. Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) is a movement-based psychosocial intervention that incorporates exercise, artistic, and recreational components. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of DMT on perceived stress and diurnal cortisol slope. Methods: This clinical trial randomized 121 Chinese breast cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy treatment into the DMT (n = 63) or control group (n = 58). The intervention comprised six 1.5-hour group sessions held twice a week over the course of radiotherapy. The participants completed self-report measures on perceived stress, health and sleep characteristics at baseline. Salivary cortisol samples were collected at five time points and perceived stress at the end of the intervention. Moderated mediation analysis was used to evaluate the DMT effect on the diurnal cortisol slope. Results: Overall, DMT showed a marginal beneficial effect on diurnal cortisol slope (B = –0.66, 95% CI = –1.36 to 0.06, β = –0.17). Baseline perceived stress significantly and negatively moderated the effect of DMT on diurnal cortisol slope (B = –0.21, 95% CI = –0.36 to –0.05, β = –0.35). At one SD above the pss1 mean, the cortisol slope of the DMT group (M = -6.93) was significantly steeper than the control group (M = -5.35) with 95% CI for the difference of -1.58 = -2.59 to -0.61. The indirect effect of DMT on cortisol slope via Time 2 perceived stress was not statistically significant. Discussions: The DMT program had a modest overall effect on diurnal cortisol slope in breast cancer patients but appeared to be effective in modulating the neuroendocrine response of those who were distressed. The present findings suggest that perceived stress may play a moderator but not mediator role in the DMT effect on diurnal cortisol slope

Regaining control of emotional expression: dance movement therapy for childhood sexual abuse survivors

Research Poster Sessionlink_to_subscribed_fulltex

Concerns for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse: distress level and sources of distress

Parallel Workshop 8.6 - Violence, Crime & Human Trafficking - 3: abstract no. 2VC005

Chinese breast cancer patients: psychological outcome differences between patients who had mastectomy or lumpectomy treatment

PosterOBJECTIVE: In Hong Kong, surgery and adjuvant treatments (mainly chemotherapy and radiotherapy) are the standard treatment for breast cancer patients. Although the choice of lumpectomy and mastectomy surgery which related to the preservation of the breast had huge psychological influence on patients, less is known on the difference. This study aims at investigating the difference on psychological outcome of mastectomy versus lumpectomy among Chinese breast cancer patients. DESIGN: 140 Chinese breast cancer patients who had completed the mastectomy or lumpectomy surgery were recruited in this study. All of them were asked to fill in a set of self-reported questionnaires including fatigue, emotional distress (anxiety and depression), pain, sleeping quality and quality of life scale before their commencement of radiotherapy treatment. METHODS: Independent sample t-test had been conducted to investigate the difference on psychological outcomes among breast cancer patients undergo different surgery. RESULTS: 61 per cent of participants had lumpectomy and 39 per cent (55 participants) had total mastectomy surgery. Result showed that patient had lumpectomy surgery in general had better psychological outcome than patient had mastectomy. They had significant difference on the functional well-being domain in Quality of Life scale (t(137) = -2.368; p <.05). CONCLUSIONS: Breasts are an important part of women’s sexual identity. Removing part or whole of the breast would affect patient’s perception of identity and psychological well-being. In Hong Kong, women still found breast cancer as a taboo. Our research found out that breast cancer patients who underwent different breast removal surgery had different viewpoints on their daily living functioning ability. Functional well-being is highly related to the recovery process of breast cancer patients. It may relate to how patients constructed their self-image and self-identity. Clinician and practitioner must be alert on the influences on different cancer treatments on patients