POSTTRAUMATIC-STRESS-DISORDER SYMPTOMS AFTER BONE-MARROW TRANSPLANTATION FOR BREAST-CANCER

Objective: On the basis of revisions of DSM criteria, questions have b een raised concerning the occurrence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among adults who have been diagnosed and treated for l ife-threatening illnesses. The present study examined the prevalence a nd correlates of PTSD symptoms among women who had undergone autologou s bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) for breast cancer. Methods: Parti cipants were 43 women who had undergone ABMT for breast cancer an aver age of 19 months previously (range = 2 to 62 months) and had no clinic al evidence of disease at their most recent follow-up visit. PTSD symp toms and quality of life were assessed using standardized self-report instruments. Results: Between 12% and 19% of participants were Likely to meet DSM-TV criteria for the current diagnosis of PTSD. Women who w ere less well educated, had more advanced disease at the time of the t ransplantation and had longer hospital stays for the transplantation r eported more symptoms of PTSD. Greater PTSD symptomatology was associa ted with reports of poorer physical health, mental health, and sleep q uality. Conclusion: Comparisons with previous research suggest that ra tes of PTSD are higher among women who undergo ABMT as opposed to less intensive forms of breast cancer treatment. These findings are consis tent with the view that development of PTSD symptoms is associated wit h the degree of life threat. The clinical significance of PTSD in this patient population is underscored by findings indicating that greater PTSD symptoms are associated with poorer health-related quality of li fe.