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Soria-Reyes LM, Alarcón R, Cerezo MV, Blanca MJ. Psychometric properties of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21) in women with breast cancer. Sci Rep 2024; 14:20473. [PMID: 39227677 PMCID: PMC11372162 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-68814-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer impacts the psychological well-being of women, leaving them at risk of developing depression, anxiety, and other stress-related disorders. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21) is a widely used measure, although empirical evidence regarding its psychometric properties in the breast cancer population is limited. The purpose of this study was to conduct an exhaustive analysis of the psychometric properties of the DASS-21 in a sample of Spanish women diagnosed with breast cancer. Participants were 289 breast cancer patients who completed the DASS-21 and other questionnaires measuring life satisfaction, positive and negative affect, flourishing, perceived stress, and breast cancer-specific stressors. In terms of validity evidence based on the internal structure of the DASS-21, adequate fit indices were obtained for the model based on three first-order factors (depression, anxiety, stress) and one second-order factor (general psychological distress). Reliability coefficients (McDonald's omega) ranged from .84 to .95. Validity evidence based on relationships with other variables was also provided by moderate and strong correlations with well-being indicators and stress measures. The results support the use of the DASS-21 for measuring general psychological distress in the breast cancer context, where it may provide useful information for the design of psychological interventions with patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena M Soria-Reyes
- Department of Psychobiology and Behavioral Sciences Methodology, Faculty of Psychology and Speech Therapy, University of Málaga, Doctor Ortiz Ramos, 12, 29010, Málaga, Spain
| | - Rafael Alarcón
- Department of Psychobiology and Behavioral Sciences Methodology, Faculty of Psychology and Speech Therapy, University of Málaga, Doctor Ortiz Ramos, 12, 29010, Málaga, Spain.
| | - María V Cerezo
- Department of Psychobiology and Behavioral Sciences Methodology, Faculty of Psychology and Speech Therapy, University of Málaga, Doctor Ortiz Ramos, 12, 29010, Málaga, Spain
| | - María J Blanca
- Department of Psychobiology and Behavioral Sciences Methodology, Faculty of Psychology and Speech Therapy, University of Málaga, Doctor Ortiz Ramos, 12, 29010, Málaga, Spain
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Ali AM, Alkhamees AA, Hallit S, Al-Dwaikat TN, Khatatbeh H, Al-Dossary SA. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 8: investigating its cutoff scores in relevance to loneliness and burnout among dementia family caregivers. Sci Rep 2024; 14:13075. [PMID: 38844485 PMCID: PMC11156668 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60127-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The global trend of advanced aging comes at the cost of amplified onset of age-related diseases. Dementia is a common multifactorial age-related neurodegenerative disorder, which manifests with progressive declines in cognitive functioning and ability to perform activities of daily living. As polices discourage institutionalized care, family members act as primary caregivers and endure increased vulnerability to physical and mental health problems secondary to care-related changes in life routine and relationships. Targeting clinically significant distress at earlier stages through valid brief measures may promote caregivers' wellbeing and dementia care continuity/quality. This study aimed to determine the optimal cutoff score of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 8-items (DASS-8) in a convenience sample of 571 European caregivers (Mean age = 53 ± 12 years, Italian = 74.4%, Swiss = 25.6%) through three methods. K-means clustering classified the sample into high- and low-distress clusters based on DASS-8 score of 19. Receiver operator curve (ROC) analysis using 48 and 7 cutoffs of the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) and the Three-Item University of California, Los Angeles, Loneliness Scale-version 3 (UCLALS3), revealed two DASS-8 cutoffs (12.5 and 14.5, area under the curve (AUC) = 0.85 and 0.92, p values < .001, 95% CI 0.82-0.88 and 0.89 to 0.94, sensitivity = 0.81 and 0.78, specificity = 0.76 and 0.89, Youden index = 0.57 and 0.67, respectively). Decision modeling produced two DASS-8 cutoffs (9.5 and 14.5) for predicting low and high caregiving burden and loneliness, respectively. According to the median of all DASS-8 cutoffs (14.5) the prevalence of mental distress was 50.8%. Distress correlated with key mental problems such as burnout and loneliness-in path analysis, DASS-8 scores were predicted by the ZBI, UCLALS3, care dependency, and receiving help with care, especially among older, female, and spouse caregivers. Further diagnostic workup should follow to confirm psycho-pathogenicity among caregivers with DASS-8 scores above 14.5. Investigations of the DASS-8 in other countries/populations may confirm the validity of this cutoff score.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amira Mohammed Ali
- Department of Psychiatric Nursing and Mental Health, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University, Smouha, 21527, Alexandria, Egypt
| | | | - Souheil Hallit
- School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, P.O. Box 446, Jounieh, Lebanon
- Applied Science Research Center, Applied Science Private University, Amman, Jordan
| | - Tariq N Al-Dwaikat
- Department of Community and Mental Health, Faculty of Nursing, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Haitham Khatatbeh
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Jerash University, Jerash, Jordan
| | - Saeed A Al-Dossary
- Department of Psychology, College of Education, University of Ha'il, 1818, Ha'il, Saudi Arabia
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Villarreal-Zegarra D, Paredes-Angeles R, Mayo-Puchoc N, Arenas-Minaya E, Huarcaya-Victoria J, Copez-Lonzoy A. Psychometric properties of the GAD-7 (General Anxiety Disorder-7): a cross-sectional study of the Peruvian general population. BMC Psychol 2024; 12:183. [PMID: 38566138 PMCID: PMC10985987 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-024-01688-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anxiety disorders are among the main mental health problems worldwide and are considered one of the most disabling conditions. Therefore, it is essential to have measurement tools that can be used to screen for anxiety symptoms in the general population and thus identify potential cases of people with anxiety symptoms and provide them with timely care. Our aim was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the General Anxiety Disorder-7 scale (GAD-7) in the Peruvian population. METHOD Our study was a cross-sectional study. The sample included people aged 12 to 65 years in Peru. Confirmatory factor analysis, analysis of measurement invariance, convergent validity with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and internal consistency analysis were performed. RESULTS In total, 4431 participants were included. The one-factor model showed the best fit (CFI = 0.994; TLI = 0.991; RMSEA = 0.068; WRMR = 1.567). The GAD-7 score showed measurement invariance between men and women and between age groups (adults vs. adolescents) (ΔCFI < 0.01). The internal consistency of the one-factor model was satisfactory (ω = 0.90, α = 0.93). The relationship between depressive symptoms (PHQ-9) and anxiety symptoms (GAD-7) presented a moderate correlation (r = 0.77). CONCLUSIONS Our study concluded that the GAD-7 score shows evidence of validity and reliability for the one-factor model. Furthermore, because the GAD-7 score is invariant, comparisons can be made between groups (i.e., by sex and age group). Finally, we recommend the use of the GAD-7 for the general population in the Peruvian context.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Villarreal-Zegarra
- Universidad César Vallejo, Escuela de Medicina, Trujillo, Peru
- Instituto Peruano de Orientación Psicológica, Lima, Peru
| | | | | | | | - Jeff Huarcaya-Victoria
- Escuela Profesional de Medicina Humana, Universidad Privada San Juan Bautista, Filial Ica, Ica, Peru
| | - Anthony Copez-Lonzoy
- Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola, Lima, Peru.
- Instituto Peruano de Orientación Psicológica, Lima, Peru.
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Hinz A, Schulte T, Mehnert-Theuerkauf A, Richter D, Sender A, Brock H, Friedrich M, Briest S. Fear of Cancer Progression: A Comparison between the Fear of Progression Questionnaire (FoP-Q-12) and the Concerns about Recurrence Questionnaire (CARQ-4). Healthcare (Basel) 2024; 12:435. [PMID: 38391810 PMCID: PMC10888487 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12040435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
As cancer patients often suffer from fear of cancer progression (FoP), valid screening for FoP is of high relevance. The aims of this study were to test psychometric properties of two FoP questionnaires, to determine their relationship to other anxiety-related constructs, and to analyze the impact of sociodemographic and clinical factors on the FoP. Our sample consisted of n = 1733 patients with mixed cancer diagnoses. For measuring FoP, the Fear of Progression questionnaire (FoP-Q-12) and the Concerns About Cancer Recurrence Questionnaire (CARQ-4) were used. The mean scores of the FoP-Q-12 and the CARQ-4 were 30.0 ± 10.4 and 16.1 ± 10.8, respectively, indicating relatively high levels of FoP. Both questionnaires showed excellent internal consistency coefficients, α = 0.895 and α = 0.915, respectively. The correlation between the two FoP questionnaires was r = 0.72. Female patients reported more FoP than male patients (d = 0.84 and d = 0.54, respectively). There was a nonlinear age dependency of FoP, with an increase found in the age range from 18 to 50 years and a decrease in the older age range. Radiation, chemotherapy, and antibody therapy, but not surgery, lead to an increase in FoP. Both questionnaires show good psychometric properties and can be recommended for use in an oncological routine. Female patients and patients in the middle-age range deserve special attention from healthcare providers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Hinz
- Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Comprehensive Cancer Center Central Germany, University Medical Center Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Thomas Schulte
- Rehabilitation Clinic Bad Oexen, 32549 Bad Oeynhausen, Germany
| | - Anja Mehnert-Theuerkauf
- Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Comprehensive Cancer Center Central Germany, University Medical Center Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Diana Richter
- Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Comprehensive Cancer Center Central Germany, University Medical Center Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Annekathrin Sender
- Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Comprehensive Cancer Center Central Germany, University Medical Center Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Hannah Brock
- Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Comprehensive Cancer Center Central Germany, University Medical Center Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Michael Friedrich
- Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Comprehensive Cancer Center Central Germany, University Medical Center Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Susanne Briest
- Department of Gynecology, Comprehensive Cancer Center Central Germany, University Medical Center Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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Bahcivan O, Gutierrez-Maldonado J, Estapé T. A single-session Mindfulness-Based Swinging Technique vs. cognitive disputation intervention among women with breast cancer: A pilot randomised controlled study examining the efficacy at 8-week follow-up. Front Psychol 2022; 13:1007065. [PMID: 36337479 PMCID: PMC9632732 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1007065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Previously Mindfulness-Based Swinging Technique (MBST)'s immediate efficacy for overcoming psychological concerns has recently received empirical support, yet its longer-term efficacy needed to be evaluated among women with breast cancer. The objective of this study was to assess and report the efficacy of MBST intervention among breast cancer patients for hopelessness, anxiety, depression, self-efficacy, oxygen (SpO2) intensity, and heart rate-beats per minute (HR-bpm) at an 8-week period. Method The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, The Emotion Thermometer, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Self-Efficacy for Managing Chronic Disease, and Beck's Hopelessness Scale were used for assessing the intervention's outcome; 149 BC patients were randomly assigned into two groups (equal-mean-age, p = 0.262). The participants in the control group (CG, n = 73) received Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)-Cognitive-Disputation (CBT-CD) for 20 min, and intervention group (IG, n = 76) received MBST intervention. No additional psychological interventions were given between week-1 and week-8. Result Outcomes of the 8-week post-treatment follow-up exhibited significantly higher improvements in all evaluated-measurements for CG, and some for IG with large effect size in the following: anxiety (CG p < 0.05, r = 0.57; IG p < 0.05, r = 0.44) and depression levels (CG p < 0.05, r = 0.43). It increased self-efficacy for managing disease (CG p < 0.05, r = 0.49; IG p < 0.05, r = 0.41) and hopefulness (CG p < 0.05, r = 0.59; IG p < 0.05, r = 0.46), and saturation levels measured by pulse-meter/oximeter (CG p < 0.05, r = 0.49; IG p < 0.05, r = 0.32). Conclusions Both CBT-CD and MBST have been found to be efficacious interventions to shorten the psychotherapy duration for reducing clinical anxiety and hopelessness as well as increase self-efficacy for BC women. This may have a distinct clinical importance for supporting BC patient's adherence-to-treatment since CBT-CD could be an alternative technique to MBST as a brief intervention. In future studies, the effectiveness of MBST through adapting to virtual reality and other online delivery methods should be examined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ozan Bahcivan
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Psiko-Onkologlar Dernegi (Turkish Psycho-Oncological Association), Izmir, Turkey
| | - Jose Gutierrez-Maldonado
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Bahcivan O, Estapé T, Gutierrez-Maldonado J. Efficacy of New Mindfulness-Based Swinging Technique Intervention: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial Among Women With Breast Cancer. Front Psychol 2022; 13:863857. [PMID: 35859820 PMCID: PMC9291217 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.863857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Combining 3rd-wave-therapies with Cognitive-Behavioural-Therapy (CBT) has increased in recent years. Usually these therapies require longer sessions which therefore increases the psychotherapy drop-out rate for cancer patients for multiple medical reasons. This inspired intervention of a shorter 20 min-long mindfulness-therapy (MBST) to be developed for Breast-Cancer-patients (BC). Method This pilot randomised controlled trial was to assess the immediate-outcome of the MBST-intervention for its efficacy for BC-patients by using the Pearson Chi-square test, Fisher-Freeman-Halton exact test, and McNemar test for categorical variables; Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon test for the continuous variables. The Emotion Thermometer, State Trait Anxiety Inventory, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Self-Efficacy for Managing Chronic Disease, and Beck's Hopelessness Scale were used for measuring the intervention outcomes. One hundred seventy-three BC patients were randomly assigned in two-groups (equal-mean-age, p = 0.417). Control-Group (CG, n = 82) received cognitive-disputation-technique a form-of-CBT, and Intervention-Group (IG, n = 74) received MBST. The directives are given to IG: psychoeducation about Mindfulness, and to imagine themselves swinging-in a peaceful environment. When the patients imagine their swing going up, they physically take a deep-breath, and when going down they physically release their breath, and this process is repeated. Result Outcomes post-treatment showed significant higher-improvement in IG in all the assessed-measurements, with large-effect-size: anxiety (p < 0,05, r = 0,67) and depression-levels (p < 0,05, r = 0,71); anxiety-trait (p < 0,05; r = 0,79) reduced, it increases self-efficacy for managing-disease (p < 0,05, r = 0,82) as-well-as hopefulness (p < 0,05, r = 0,61) and saturation-level measured by pulse-meter/oximeter (p < 0,05, r = 0,51). Conclusion MBST is an efficacious intervention to reduce psychotherapy session time for immediate relief from clinical anxiety and hopelessness as well as increase self-efficacy and improve tranquillity for BC-women. It may have a particular clinical significance for supporting patient's adherence to treatment. Although in this pilot sample MBST was found to be effective for short-term-outcome, its efficacy for longer-term-outcome should be examined in future trials. Additionally, breathing laps can be increased possibly for a greater result on rise of saturation levels of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ozan Bahcivan
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Psiko-Onkologlar Dernegi (Turkish Psycho-Oncological Association), Izmir, Turkey
| | | | - Jose Gutierrez-Maldonado
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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