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Depressive symptom trajectories in women affected by breast cancer and their male partners: a nationwide prospective cohort study

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to identify subgroups of breast cancer patients and their partners based on distinct trajectories of depressive symptoms, to examine how relationship quality and medical and sociodemographic factors were associated with these trajectories, and to explore whether patients and partners had similar trajectories.

Methods

A nationwide, population-based cohort of couples dealing with breast cancer was established in Denmark. Participants completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale at baseline and 5 and 12 months later. Sociodemographic and medical characteristics were retrieved from registers. A trajectory finite mixture model was used to identify trajectories.

Results

The trajectories of depressive symptoms over time were analyzed in 546 patients and 508 partners. Among patients, 13 % had a high stable trajectory, 38 % an intermediate decreasing trajectory, and 49 % a low trajectory. Similar trajectories were found for partners (11, 22, and 67 %, respectively). Compared to the low trajectory, trajectories with higher depressive symptoms were associated with poorer relationship quality and previous use of antidepressants for patients and partners and with younger age, comorbidity, basic education, and chemotherapy for patients. The trajectories of patients and their partners were weakly correlated.

Conclusions

A considerable minority of patients and partners had a persistently high level of depressive symptoms. Poorer relationship quality and previous antidepressant use most consistently characterized patients and partners with higher depressive symptom trajectories.

Implications for cancer survivors

In clinical practice, attention to differences in depressive symptom trajectories is important to identify and target patients and partners who might need support.

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Acknowledgments

The study was funded by the Danish Cancer Society. The National Research Centre for Cancer Rehabilitation, University of Southern Denmark, is funded by the Danish Cancer Society.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Research Centre for Cancer Rehabilitation, Research Unit of General Practice, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 9, 5000, Odense C, Denmark

    Nina Rottmann & Dorte Gilså Hansen

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense M, Denmark

    Nina Rottmann

  3. Health Sciences/Health Psychology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Mariët Hagedoorn

  4. Center for Clinical Epidemiology, Odense University Hospital, Sdr. Boulevard 29, 5000, Odense C, Denmark

    Pia Veldt Larsen

  5. Research Unit of Clinical Epidemiology, Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Sdr. Boulevard 29, 5000, Odense C, Denmark

    Pia Veldt Larsen

  6. Center for Quality, Region of Southern Denmark, P.V. Tuxensvej 5, 5500, Middelfart, Denmark

    Anne Nicolaisen

  7. Unit of Survivorship, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Strandboulevarden 49, 2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark

    Pernille Envold Bidstrup & Christoffer Johansen

  8. Multidisciplinary Pain Center, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark

    Hanne Würtzen

  9. Department of Breast Surgery, Herlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Herlev Ringvej 75, 2730, Herlev, Denmark

    Henrik Flyger

  10. Department of Breast Surgery, PBB, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark

    Niels Kroman

  11. Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark

    Niels Kroman

  12. Oncology Department, Finsen Center, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark

    Christoffer Johansen

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  1. Nina Rottmann
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  2. Dorte Gilså Hansen
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  4. Pia Veldt Larsen
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  5. Anne Nicolaisen
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  6. Pernille Envold Bidstrup
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  7. Hanne Würtzen
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  8. Henrik Flyger
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  9. Niels Kroman
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  10. Christoffer Johansen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nina Rottmann.

Ethics declarations

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Model selection in the study of the depressive symptom trajectories of 546 women affected by breast cancer and 508 male partners. (PDF 98 kb)

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Rottmann, N., Hansen, D.G., Hagedoorn, M. et al. Depressive symptom trajectories in women affected by breast cancer and their male partners: a nationwide prospective cohort study. J Cancer Surviv 10, 915–926 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-016-0538-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-016-0538-3

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