Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
Supportive Care in Cancer
Volume
32
Issue
7
PubMed ID
38954104
Publisher
Springer
School
Exercise Medicine Research Institute / School of Medical and Health Sciences
RAS ID
70469
Funders
National Health and Medical Research Council / National Institutes of Health
Grant Number
APP2018070, GNT1154651, 1R21NR020497
Abstract
A significant proportion of cancer survivors will experience some form of mental health compromise across domains including mood, anxiety, psychosis, eating disorders, and substance use. This psychopathology within cancer survivors is related to a range of negative outcomes and can also have a substantial negative impact on quality of life. Along with psychopathology, cognitive impairments are also commonly experienced, resulting in deficits in memory, reasoning, decision-making, speed of processing, and concentration, collectively referred to as cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI). Within the non-oncology literature, cognitive deficits are consistently demonstrated to be a key transdiagnostic aetiological feature of psychopathology, functionally contributing to the development and perpetuation of symptoms. Whilst there is an acknowledgement of the role mental health concerns might play in the development of and perception of CRCI, there has been limited acknowledgement and research exploring the potential for CRCI to functionally contribute toward the development of transdiagnostic psychopathology in cancer survivors beyond simply psychosocial distress. Given the theoretical and empirical evidence suggesting cognitive deficits to be an aetiological factor in psychopathology, we provide a rationale for the potential for CRCI to be a factor in the development and perpetuation of transdiagnostic psychopathology in cancer survivors. This potential functional association has significant implications for risk identification, prevention, treatment, and supportive cancer care approaches regarding psychopathology in cancer survivorship. We conclude by providing directions for future research in this area.
DOI
10.1007/s00520-024-08696-9
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Comments
Haywood, D., Henry, M., Dauer, E., Lederman, O., Farley, M., Henneghan, A. M., ... & Hart, N. H. (2024). Cancer-related cognitive impairment as a key contributor to psychopathology in cancer survivors: Implications for prevention, treatment and supportive care. Supportive Care in Cancer, 32(7), 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-024-08696-9