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Factors associated with post-traumatic stress symptoms experienced in the acute phase following haemopoietic stem cell transplant

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 51, pages 435–437 (2016)Cite this article

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The factors that impact on the psychological adjustment of patients undergoing haemopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) have been of significant research interest. In particular, patients’ experience of anxiety, depression and distress post transplantation,1, 2, 3 has received considerable research attention. However, fewer studies have examined the experience of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms following HSCT.4

According to Ehlers and Clark’s cognitive model of PTSD, individuals develop a persistent post-traumatic stress response if they process the traumatic event in a manner that leads to a sense of serious current threat.5 Specific factors that may impact on appraisal of the trauma and its consequences include characteristics of the trauma and sequelae, as well as individuals’ prior experiences and beliefs.5 Although poorer physical functioning has been associated with more severe PTSD symptoms,6 the relationships between trauma symptoms and medical factors such as disease stage and transplant type have been less consistent across studies.4 Similarly, with respect to socio-demographic factors, studies have generally demonstrated unequivocal relationships between age, gender and marital status and trauma symptom severity.4

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the patients who participated in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

    B Pillay

  2. Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, Alfred Health and Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

    S J Lee

  3. Department of Psychology and Consultation Liaison Psychiatry, Alfred Health and Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

    L Katona

  4. Patient and Family Services, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

    S De Bono

  5. Szalmuk Family Psycho-oncology Unit, Cabrini Health and School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

    S Burney

  6. Malignant Haematology & Stem Cell Transplantation, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

    S Avery

Authors
  1. B Pillay
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  2. S J Lee
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  3. L Katona
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  4. S De Bono
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  5. S Burney
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  6. S Avery
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Correspondence to S J Lee.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Pillay, B., Lee, S., Katona, L. et al. Factors associated with post-traumatic stress symptoms experienced in the acute phase following haemopoietic stem cell transplant. Bone Marrow Transplant 51, 435–437 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/bmt.2015.259

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