Depression in Uveal Melanoma Survivorship: Examining Psychological Predictors of Adjustment in the First Year Following Diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: A rare cancer, uveal melanoma (UM) affects 5 in 1 million adults annually. Research on predictors of mental health in UM survivors is scarce. PURPOSE: In this prospective study, we tested models that postulate interactions between illness perceptions and coping processes in predicting depressive symptoms 1 year following UM diagnosis. METHODS: Participants' approach- and avoidance-oriented coping processes and illness perceptions specific to control and chronicity were assessed. Participants (N = 107) completed assessments prior to diagnosis (T0), and 1 week (T1), 3 months (T2), and 12 months after UM diagnosis (T3). RESULTS: At T1, a significant avoidance coping × chronicity perception interaction (b = 1.84, p = .03) indicated that the link between higher avoidance coping and greater T3 depressive symptoms was stronger for participants with prolonged chronicity perceptions (b = 17.13, p < .001). Chronicity perceptions at T2 interacted significantly with approach-oriented coping at all time points; the link between higher approach coping and lower T3 depressive symptoms was stronger for participants with prolonged chronicity perceptions at T2. Interactions between control perceptions and coping did not significantly predict T3 depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Findings lend partial support to predictive models that consider the combined, interacting influence of chronicity perceptions and coping processes on depressive symptoms in survivors of eye cancer.

The present study sought to identify psychological factors that were associated with depressive symptoms in adults diagnosed with uveal melanoma, a rare cancer. Understanding risk factors for depressive symptoms in cancer survivors is important, as heightened depressive symptoms have been shown to be associated with worse mental, physical, and disease-related outcomes in various cancer populations. In this study, uveal melanoma patients at University of California, Los Angeles were given questionnaires before their diagnosis, as well as 1 week, 3 months, and 1 year later. These questionnaires asked patients about their mental health, their efforts to cope with their cancer, and how they viewed their cancer. Adults with uveal melanoma were more likely to experience depressive symptoms 1 year after diagnosis when they had viewed their illness as more chronic in nature and also engaged in higher levels of cancer-related avoidance coping or lower levels of approach coping 3 months after their diagnosis. Findings highlight the impact that coping and perceptions of one's illness can have on mental health in the year following an uveal melanoma diagnosis. Future work should test whether mental health interventions targeting coping behaviors and/or illness perceptions can help to prevent or reduce depressive symptoms in uveal melanoma survivors.

Visual impairment and depression in uveal melanoma: Optimism and pessimism as moderators.

OBJECTIVE: Uveal melanoma, a rare eye cancer, presents potential vision loss and life threat. This prospective, longitudinal study interrogated the predictive utility of visual impairment, as moderated by optimism/pessimism, on depressive symptoms in 299 adults undergoing diagnostic evaluation. METHOD: Depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale), subjective (Measure of Outcome in Ocular Disease vision subscale) and objective (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution) visual impairment, and optimism/pessimism (Life Orientation Test-Revised) were assessed before diagnostic evaluation and 1 week, 3 months, and 12 months after diagnosis. Multilevel modeling, with repeated measures (Level 1) nested within individuals (Level 2) and imputation of missing data (Blimp software), was performed. RESULTS: Depressive symptoms were significantly more elevated 1 week after diagnosis in cancer patients (n = 107) versus patients not diagnosed with cancer (n = 192). Higher subjective (but not objective) visual impairment predicted greater depressive symptoms (p < .001). Across the entire sample, the two-way (Optimism/Pessimism × Subjective Visual Impairment) interactions were statistically significant (ps < .05), but not the three-way interaction (with diagnosis). The positive association between subjective visual impairment and depressive symptoms was significant at low and moderate levels of optimism (ps < .001), but not at high optimism (p > .05). The association was significant at high and moderate levels (ps < .001), but not low (p > .05) levels of pessimism. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated depressive symptoms are evident in adults who do (vs. do not) receive a diagnosis of uveal melanoma but appear to remit within 3 months. Perceived impaired vision, especially coupled with low optimism or high pessimism, predicts depressive symptoms over time, with implications for intervention. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

A prospective study of cancer-related benefit finding in uveal melanoma patients.

Little is known about contributors to the psychosocial impact of uveal melanoma, a rare cancer. Predictors and outcomes of benefit finding, a potentially favorable outcome, were investigated. Adults (n = 107) completed assessments prior to diagnosis of uveal melanoma and one week, three months and 12 months after diagnosis. Path analyses with the full information maximum likelihood estimation method were conducted. Objective disease impact on vision did not predict benefit finding (p > .05). Approach-oriented coping prior to diagnosis and one week later significantly predicted greater benefit finding 12 months later (p < .01). Avoidance-oriented coping at three months moderated the concurrent relationship of benefit finding and positive affect at 12 months (p < .001). This first study of predictors of benefit finding in uveal melanoma patients suggests that greater approach-oriented coping prospectively predicts higher benefit finding. Further, avoidance may condition the association of benefit finding with psychosocial outcomes.

Chronic Stress in Vocational and Intimate Partner Domains as Predictors of Depressive Symptoms After Breast Cancer Diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: After cancer diagnosis, depressive symptoms are elevated on average and decline over time, but substantial variability is apparent. Few studies have examined to what extent chronic stress in distinct life domains affects depressive symptoms. PURPOSE: Chronic stress in vocational and intimate partner life domains, and their interaction, were tested as predictors of depressive symptoms after breast cancer diagnosis. METHODS: Women (N = 460) completed validated interviews regarding chronic stress in specific life domains shortly after diagnosis and a measure of depressive symptoms every 6 weeks for 6 months. RESULTS: In latent growth curve modeling analyses, greater chronic stress in work (b = 2.90; p < .001) and intimate partner domains (b = 1.38, p = .02) was associated with higher depressive symptoms at study entry (intercept), and greater work stress predicted faster recovery from depressive symptoms over time (b = -0.10; p = .01). The two domains of chronic stress also interacted significantly on depressive symptoms at study entry (b = -1.54; p < .02) and over time (b = 0.14; p < .001). Greater work stress was associated with higher depressive symptoms at study entry regardless of intimate partner stress, but greater intimate partner stress was associated with higher depressive symptoms when work stress was low. The decline over 6 months in initially elevated depressive symptoms predicted by high work stress was significantly steeper when intimate partner stress was low. CONCLUSIONS: Targeting interventions to recently diagnosed breast cancer patients living with chronically stressful vocational and intimate partner life circumstances could be worthwhile.

Metastatic Breast Cancer Collateral Damage Project (MBCCD): Scale development and preliminary results of the Survey of Health, Impact, Needs, and Experiences (SHINE).

PURPOSE: Until recently, people with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) had a very poor prognosis. New treatment approaches have prolonged the time that people with MBC live, but their quality of life has received less attention. Consequently, the needs and concerns across financial, vocational, psychological, social, and physical domains in MBC patients are poorly understood-particularly regarding the collateral damage or longer-term, life-altering impacts of MBC and its treatments. This study's aims were to characterize MBC-related collateral damage, identify groups most likely to experience collateral damage, and examine its associations with psychological health, illness management, and health behaviors. METHODS: Participants (N = 515) with MBC were recruited from Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation's Army of Women® and other advocacy organizations. Participants completed questionnaires of MBC-related collateral damage, depressive symptoms, anxiety, self-efficacy for managing oncologic treatments and physical symptoms, sleep, and physical activity. RESULTS: Eight domains of MBC-related collateral damage, as well as MBC-related benefit finding, were reliably characterized. Concerns about mortality/uncertainty were most prominent. Participants also endorsed high levels of benefit finding. Participants younger than 50 years, with limited financial resources, or with children under 18 at home reported the most collateral damage. Collateral damage was associated significantly with compromised psychological health, lower illness management efficacy, and poorer health behaviors, beyond sociodemographic and medical characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Subgroups of MBC patients report long-term, life-altering consequences of MBC and its treatments, which relate to important health outcomes. Clinical implications and recommendations are discussed.

Sociodemographic, Medical, and Psychosocial Factors Associated With Supportive Care Needs in Adults Diagnosed With Uveal Melanoma.

Importance: Understanding supportive care needs in patients with cancer is important for developing approaches that enhance quality of life and promote satisfaction with care. Objective: To characterize the nature and frequency of sociodemographic, medical, and psychosocial factors associated with unmet needs in patients with uveal melanoma 1 week and 3 months after diagnosis. Design, Setting, and Participants: This 3-month, prospective, longitudinal survey study was conducted at a university-based ophthalmology practice from June 1, 2007, to July 1, 2011. Data were analyzed in April 2017. Consecutive patients (n = 429) scheduled for diagnostic evaluation for an intraocular abnormality were assessed for eligibility. Participants were ineligible (n = 25) if they were younger than 18 years, had previous advanced cancer, or evidenced cognitive impairment. Of the patients who provided informed consent (n = 306), those subsequently diagnosed with uveal melanoma by an ophthalmologist (n = 107) were included in the analysis. Main Outcomes and Measures: Unmet needs (ie, desire for help in psychological, physical, health information, communication, or social domains) were assessed using the Cancer Needs Questionnaire. Multivariable regression analyses determined factors associated with unmet need severity across 3 months. Results: One hundred seven patients (58 [54%] men; mean [SD] age, 59.0 [12.8] years) completed the baseline assessment. At 1 week after diagnosis, nearly all patients (85 of 86 [99%]) expressed at least 1 unmet need, as did 68 of 79 (86%) 3 months later. The most frequently endorsed needs were in the health information and psychological domains. Patients' unmet needs declined significantly over 3 months (mean [SD] change, -10.0 [14.4]; 95% CI, -6.4 to -13.6; t = -5.6). Sociodemographic and medical characteristics were unrelated to unmet need severity. However, higher prediagnosis instrumental social support (b = -0.2; 95% CI, -0.3 to -0.1; z = -2.8) and lower neuroticism (b = 0.3; 95% CI, 0.1-0.5; z = 2.9) predicted lower unmet need severity 1 week after diagnosis. Having a smaller social network predicted lower unmet need severity 3 months after diagnosis (b < 0.1; 95% CI, <0.1 to <0.1; z = 2.4) as well as a decline in needs from diagnosis to 3 months later (b < 0.1; 95% CI, <0.1 to <0.1; z = 2.3). Conclusions and Relevance: Within 1 week after diagnosis and 3 months later, most patients with uveal melanoma cited important health information and psychological needs. These findings suggest that prior to or at diagnosis, the severity of such needs and psychosocial factors that may be associated can be identified for proactive supportive intervention.