The psychometrics of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale supports a shorter -12 item- version

The effects of Managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully (CALM) on psychological distress in esophageal cancer patients

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of Managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully (CALM) in esophageal cancer with psychological distress during treatment. Materials & methods: The study assigned eligible patients to either a CALM group or a usual care group. Psychological distress, anxiety, depression and quality of life scores were assessed for both groups at baseline, during the intervention period and at the end of the intervention. Results: Patients showed a significant reduction in psychological distress, anxiety and depression and demonstrated improved quality of life after the CALM intervention, and the positive effect remained after 1 month of follow-up. Conclusion: This study suggests that CALM may be an effective approach for targeting psychological distress in patients with esophageal cancer.

The utility of PROMIS domain measures in dermatologic care

Patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures play an important role in clinical care. Currently, a broad-spectrum, validated PRO measure suitable for all dermatology patients, as part of clinical care, does not exist. Patient-reported Outcome Measures Information System (PROMIS) measures track specific domain outcomes across all diseases. To assess the relevance and utility of a computer-adaptive health assessment consisting of three PROMIS domains in routine dermatologic care. This retrospective study evaluated a PROMIS health assessment, consisting of three computer-adaptive test domains (pain interference, anxiety, and depression), administered as part of routine clinical care in three dermatology clinics at an academic medical center. The primary objective was to identify clinically significant associations between high PROMIS domain scores (i.e., t score > 55) and dermatologic disease, as well as change in PROMIS domain scores in response to treatment. The majority of patients who initiated the assessment completed all domains (88.7%). In patients with atopic dermatitis, acne, hidradenitis suppurativa, and psoriasis, high PROMIS scores correlated with clinically relevant outcomes, such as severe disease, unsuccessful treatment, uncontrolled disease, and the presence of a mental health condition. PROMIS Pain Interference, anxiety and depression identified patients with severe disease, unsuccessful treatment regimens, poorly-controlled disease, and/or mental health comorbidities for multiple skin conditions. Further utilization of PROMIS domains in routine clinical care will promote patient-centered care and improve quality of care.