Psychological Well-Being of Cancer Patients before and during the Pandemic: The Impact of COVID-19 Peritraumatic Distress

Ilaria Bochicchio, Valentina Lucia La Rosa, Graziella Marino (), Giuseppe Craparo, Elena Commodari, Giovanni Deiana, Francesca Sanseverino, Alfredo Tartarone, Raffaele Conca and Alessandro Rocco Lettini
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Ilaria Bochicchio: Unit of Clinical Psychology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico della Basilicata (IRCCS-CROB), 85028 Rionero in Vulture, Italy
Valentina Lucia La Rosa: Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy
Graziella Marino: Unit of Breast Surgery, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico della Basilicata (IRCCS-CROB), 85028 Rionero in Vulture, Italy
Giuseppe Craparo: Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, Kore University of Enna, 94100 Enna, Italy
Elena Commodari: Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy
Giovanni Deiana: Unit of Clinical Psychology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico della Basilicata (IRCCS-CROB), 85028 Rionero in Vulture, Italy
Francesca Sanseverino: Unit of Oncological Gynecology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico della Basilicata (IRCCS-CROB), 85028 Rionero in Vulture, Italy
Alfredo Tartarone: Unit of Oncological Gynecology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico della Basilicata (IRCCS-CROB), 85028 Rionero in Vulture, Italy
Raffaele Conca: Unit of Oncological Gynecology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico della Basilicata (IRCCS-CROB), 85028 Rionero in Vulture, Italy
Alessandro Rocco Lettini: Unit of Clinical Psychology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico della Basilicata (IRCCS-CROB), 85028 Rionero in Vulture, Italy

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 5, 1-11

Abstract: Background: This study aimed to evaluate the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer patients. Methods: Ninety cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy with antiblastics were recruited from a tertiary medical center and completed a battery of standardized questionnaires to assess anxiety, depression, peritraumatic stress, and quality of life before and during the pandemic. Results: Quality of life worsened significantly during the pandemic compared with the pre-pandemic period. Anxiety and depression levels also increased significantly during the pandemic. COVID-19 peritraumatic distress significantly predicted lower quality-of-life scores during the pandemic. Conclusions: COVID-19 distress affected the overall quality of life of patients who already had lower levels of quality of life before the pandemic and who had advanced cancers. Cancer patients must receive adequate support from psychiatrists and psychologists to mitigate the psychological distress related to the pandemic.

Keywords: cancer; COVID-19; anxiety; depression; peritraumatic stress; quality of life (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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