Factors associated with psychological distress in caregivers of patients with malignant gliomas
Abstract
Purpose Caregivers of patients with malignant gliomas are at risk for psychological distress. However, factors associated with distress in this population have not been well described. We conducted a prospective study evaluating psychological distress in patients with malignant gliomas and their caregivers and exploring factors associated with caregiver distress. Methods We enrolled patients with newly diagnosed malignant gliomas (N = 77) and their caregivers (N = 61). At baseline and 3, 6, and 9 months after diagnosis, we administered the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale to assess psychological distress and the Caregiver Reaction Assessment to evaluate caregiver burden. We performed multivariable regression analyses to investigate caregiver-related, patient-related, and tumor-related factors associated with caregivers' distress. Results At baseline, 48.3% (29/60) and 26.2% (16/61) of caregivers reported clinically significant anxiety and depression symptoms, respectively. Anxiety and depression symptoms persisted over time. Greater caregiver depression was associated with male gender (B = 1.48, 95% CI 0.16-2.81, p = 0.03), higher caregiver burden (B = 0.08, 95% CI 0.01-0.15, p = 0.02), caregiver anxiety (B = 0.53, 95% CI 0.38-0.68, p Conclusion Male gender, higher caregiver burden, greater patient depression symptoms, and younger patient age are associated with increased distress among caregivers of patients with malignant gliomas, underscoring the need for tailored sup…
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When compared to previous literature on caregivers of other oncology patients, the prevalence of caregiver burden, anxiety, depression, and distress found in this review appears clinically significant and, in some ways, might be comparable to or higher than estimates reported in mixed cancer caregivers.
“When compared to previous literature on caregivers of other oncology patients, the prevalence of caregiver burden, anxiety, depression, and distress found in this review appears clinically significant and, in some ways, might be comparable to or higher than estimates reported in mixed cancer caregivers.32, 33”
From Caregiver burden, quality of life, and psychosocial outcomes among informal caregivers of patients with glioma: A systematic review and meta-analysis (2026) · cites this paper as [32]
The impaired quality of life and higher psychological morbidities among caregivers of patients with advanced cancer are because symptom burden, treatment intensity, and end-of-life care needs for the patients are high.
“This is because symptom burden, treatment intensity, and end-of-life care needs for the patients are high.32,33”
From Caregiver burden, quality of life, and psychosocial outcomes among informal caregivers of patients with glioma: A systematic review and meta-analysis (2026) · cites this paper as [32]
Caregivers of patients with advanced forms of cancer are known to have impaired quality of life and higher psychological morbidities.
“Caregivers of patients with advanced forms of cancer are known to have impaired QoL and higher psychological morbidities.”
From Caregiver burden, quality of life, and psychosocial outcomes among informal caregivers of patients with glioma: A systematic review and meta-analysis (2026) · cites this paper as [32]
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Physical and mental health effects of family caregiving
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Xiong, C., Biscardi, M., Astell, A., Nalder, E., Cameron, J. I., Mihailidis, A., & Colantonio, A. (2020) · PLOS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0231848 · Cited by 290 · see citing works
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Forst, D. A., Podgurski, A. F., Strander, S. M., Whitman, J. D., Datta, S., Pintro, K., Horick, N. K., Willis, K. D., Sannes, T. S., Greer, J. A., et al. (2024) · Journal of Clinical Oncology · doi:10.1200/jco.24.00065 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Self-citationWei, H., Zhang, S., Tao, S., Li, J., & Liu, X. (2026) · Asia-Pacific Journal of Oncology Nursing · doi:10.1016/j.apjon.2026.100978 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
- Authors
- Forst, D. A., Podgurski, A. F., Quain, K. M., Landay, S. L., Anand, M., Kaslow-Zieve, E., Mesa, M. M., Jacobs, J. M., Dietrich, J., Parsons, M. W., Horick, N., Greer, J. A., Batchelor, T. T., Jackson, V. A., El-Jawahri, A., & Temel, J. S.
- Affiliations
- Massachusetts General Hospital (US)
- Brigham and Women's Hospital (US)
- Corresponding author
- Forst, Deborah A.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Supportive Care in Cancer
- Published
- 2022-03-30
- Volume
- 30
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 5811-5820
- ISSN
- 0941-4355 (ISSN-L)
- 1433-7339
- OpenAlex
- W4220763982
- Cited by
- 16
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 2
- FWCI
- 1.36
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Supportive Care in Cancer (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Pappas Center for Neuro-Oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center
- Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program at Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center
- Dr. El-Jawahri is a Scholar in Clinical Research for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Nursing care and research
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Family Support in Illness
- Keywords
- caregiver psychological distress, high-grade glioma, caregiver burden, caregiver depression, caregiver anxiety, patient depression, patient age, caregiver gender, family caregivers, supportive care
- MeSH terms
- Psychological Distress, Anxiety, Depression, Glioma, Humans, Male, Prospective Studies, Stress, Psychological, Caregivers
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