Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39794295›Full record

Observational studyPsycho-oncology2025

Longitudinal Psychological Distress After Malignant Brain Tumor Diagnosis: A Multilevel Analysis of Patients and Their Caregivers.

André Karger, Anna-Maria Kisić, Caterina Quente, Maike K Klett, Ralf Schäfer, Michael Sabel, Marion Rapp

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Psycho-oncology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
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

6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Observational
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

7 authors.

André KargerClinical Institute of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4819-0144
Anna-Maria KisićClinical Institute of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0001-4810-2722
Caterina QuenteDepartment of Neurosurgery, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
Maike K KlettClinical Institute of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0002-0013-5098
Ralf SchäferClinical Institute of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
Michael SabelDepartment of Neurosurgery, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
Marion RappDepartment of Neurosurgery, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2343-244X

Funding

Heigl Foundation
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveMalignant brain tumors are associated with debilitating symptoms and a poor prognosis, resulting in high psychological distress for patients and caregivers. There is a lack of longitudinal studies investigating psychological distress in this group. This study evaluated fear of progression (FoP), anxiety and depression in patients and their caregivers in the 6 months following malignant brain tumor diagnosis.

methodsThis prospective, observational study assessed FoP (FoP-Q-SF[P]), anxiety and depression (HADS) at diagnosis (T0) and after three (T1) and 6 months (T2) in patients with malignant brain tumors (primary, secondary) and their caregivers. Multilevel analyses were used to examine changes over time and differences between patients and caregivers, while accounting for the interdependence in their distress values.

resultsSeventy-one patients and 68 caregivers were included in the analysis. Throughout the study period, over 50% reported clinically relevant FoP, almost 50% reported clinically relevant anxiety, and over 30% reported relevant depression. Over all time points, caregivers reported significantly higher anxiety and depression than patients. Anxiety decreased between T0 and T2 in both groups. Exploratory analyses showed that female sex was associated with higher anxiety, and older age with higher depression. No significant predictors were identified for FoP.

conclusionA substantial number of patients and caregivers experience clinically relevant psychological distress in the 6 months following a malignant brain tumor diagnosis. Caregivers are particularly distressed, reporting higher anxiety and depression. Integrating psycho-oncological assessments and interventions for both patients and caregivers into clinical care is critical to address the psychological distress associated with malignant brain tumors.

Indexed as

AnxietyBrain NeoplasmsCaregiversDepressionFearPsychological DistressStress, PsychologicalAdultAgedFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleMiddle AgedMultilevel AnalysisProspective Studiesanxietybrain tumorcancercaregiverdepressiondistressoncologypsychological supportpsycho‐oncology

Identifiers

PMID39794295
PMCPMC11723856

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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.