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Psychological Symptoms in Patients with MPNs

J Natl Compr Canc Netw; 2016 Dec; McFarland, et al

Publish date:

Distress and anxiety occur often in people with BCR-ABL-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), according to a cross sectional analysis involving 117 individuals.

Participants completed the Distress Thermometer and Problem List (DT&PL) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Among the results:

  • Distress averaged 3.14 on the DT&PL scale; ~40% met NCCN distress criteria.
  • Distress averaged nearly 9 on the HADS scale.
  • Anxiety averaged 5.54, and nearly one-third met HADS criteria for it.
  • Depression averaged 3.4%, and ~13% met HADS criteria for it.
  • Distress was higher for polycythemia vera (3.86), myelofibrosis (3.12), and other MPNs (4.33) than it was for essential thrombocythemia (1.81).
  • Distress was more common in non-white patients, as well as those with either polycythemia vera or myelofibrosis, but not essential thrombocythemia.

Citation:

McFarland D, Polizzi H, Mascarenhas J, Kremyanskaya M, Holland J, Hoffman R. Psychological symptoms among patients with BCR-ABL-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2016;14(12):1563-1570.

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