Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31385976›Full record

ReviewNeuro-oncology practice2016

Existential distress among caregivers of patients with brain tumors: a review of the literature.

Allison J Applebaum, Maria Kryza-Lacombe, Justin Buthorn, Antonio DeRosa, Geoff Corner, Eli L Diamond

Open access · bronzeAbstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Neuro-oncology practice, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 52 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
52citing papers in PubMed
2.3field-weighted citation impact, top 11% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

52 citing papers in PubMed, 107 citations in OpenAlex.

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  6. Impact of consultation recordings on patient-reported outcomes in patients with brain tumors: a parallel randomized controlled trial.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2021
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  9. Meaning-centered psychotherapy for Chinese caregivers of patients with advanced cancer: Cultural and linguistic adaptation.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
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  15. Defining the symptoms of personality and behaviour changes in brain tumour patients and their impact on caregivers.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025
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  17. "We are a club none of us wanted to join": exploring brain tumor online discussion forum content.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025
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  19. Navigating the Abyss: Psychological Burdens in Brain Tumor Patients.International clinical and medical case reports journal · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Allison J ApplebaumDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York (A.J.A.); Department of Neurology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York (M.K.L., J.B., E.L.D.); Medical Library, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York (A.D.); Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California (G.C.).
Maria Kryza-LacombeDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York (A.J.A.); Department of Neurology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York (M.K.L., J.B., E.L.D.); Medical Library, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York (A.D.); Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California (G.C.).
Justin ButhornDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York (A.J.A.); Department of Neurology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York (M.K.L., J.B., E.L.D.); Medical Library, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York (A.D.); Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California (G.C.).
Antonio DeRosaDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York (A.J.A.); Department of Neurology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York (M.K.L., J.B., E.L.D.); Medical Library, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York (A.D.); Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California (G.C.).
Geoff CornerDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York (A.J.A.); Department of Neurology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York (M.K.L., J.B., E.L.D.); Medical Library, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York (A.D.); Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California (G.C.).
Eli L DiamondDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York (A.J.A.); Department of Neurology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York (M.K.L., J.B., E.L.D.); Medical Library, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York (A.D.); Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California (G.C.).
University of Southern California · USMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAttention to existential needs is a component of comprehensive oncologic care, and understanding these needs among informal caregivers of patients with brain tumors is necessary to provide them with comprehensive psychosocial care. The purpose of this systematic review was to synthesize the literature on existential distress experienced by these informal caregivers to inform the development of psychotherapeutic interventions for this population.

methodsA systematic review was conducted using electronic medical databases. Studies that examined any element of existential distress among informal caregivers of patients with brain tumors were included. A final sample of 35 articles was reviewed.

resultsSix existential themes emerged: identity; isolation; responsibility and guilt; death anxiety; deriving meaning and personal growth; and spirituality and religion. The unique existential experience of parenting a patient with a brain tumor also emerged. Existential distress in all areas was identified as experienced early in the cancer trajectory and as a critical, unmet need.

conclusionsExistential distress is well documented among informal caregivers of patients with brain tumors and is a significant driving force of burden. Awareness and acknowledgement of this distress, as well as interventions to ameliorate this suffering, are needed. More candid communication between health care providers and caregivers about brain tumor prognosis and caregivers' existential distress may improve their psychosocial outcomes.

Indexed as

brain tumorsburdenexistential distressinformal caregiverspalliative care

Identifiers

PMID31385976
PMCPMC6657396
OpenAlexW2424597920

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.