Assessment of Psychological Functioning in Cancer Patients
Title:
Assessment of Psychological Functioning in Cancer Patients
Author:
Gotay, Carolyn Cook Stern, Jeffrey D.
Appeared in:
Journal of psychosocial oncology
Paging:
Volume 13 (1995) nr. 1-2 pages 123-160
Year:
1995-08-15
Contents:
This article identifies frequently used instruments that have been used to measure psychological functioning in cancer patients, summarizes information about the use of these tools in samples of cancer patients, and provides a critical evaluation of and recommendations for developing assessment instruments. Issues of the Journal of Psychosocial Oncology published between 1986 and 1993 were reviewed to select the scales most commonly used to measure patients' psychological functioning. Seven scales that assess depression, anxiety, psychological symptoms, mood, and general psychosocial adjustment to illness were identified: Beck Depression Inventory, Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Symptom Checklist 90-R, Brief Symptom Inventory, Profile of Mood States, and Psychosocia1 Adjustment to Illness Scale. A review of studies using the different scales in samples of cancer patients highlighted numerous issues concerning the validity of these tools. Future studies should address the following: psychometric evaluation as part of study designs, content validation in cancer patients, reduction of items, study samples, the use of norms, interpretation of scale scores, and inclusion of information in addition to self-reports whenever possible.
Journal description