Traumatic symptomatology and cognitive functioning in women with breast cancer treated with chemotherapy: An exploratory study
Abstract
A B S T R A C T
Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the associations between traumatic symptomatology and impairments on cognitive functioning, in a sample of women with breast cancer, in treatment with chemotherapy. Methods: Participants were 20 women diagnosed with breast cancer (Mage = 48.40; SD = 8.98). In this exploratory cross-sectional study, a battery of neuropsychological tests was used to evaluate the participants’ cognitive functioning, as well as a measure for traumatic symptomatology. Results: The results showed that 35% of the participants experienced traumatic symptomatology at clinically significant levels (cut-off > 35.5). Furthermore, significant correlations (p < .05) were found between traumatic symptomatology and executive functioning, particularly cognitive flexibility. Conclusion: Although exploratory in nature, our findings highlight the need to screen for traumatic symptomatology in breast cancer patients, regardless of treatments for oncological disease, and the need to develop interventions targeting these traumatic symptoms in order to prevent the development of cognitive deficits. during tasks that involve cognitive and motivation control processing.
Keywords: breast cancer; traumatic symptomatology; cognitive functioning; chemotherapy; cross-sectional study.
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R E S U M E N
Objetivo: El propósito de este estudio fue explorar las asociaciones entre la sintomatologÃa traumática y las alteraciones en el funcionamiento cognitivo, en una muestra de mujeres con cáncer de mama, en tratamiento con quimioterapia. Métodos: Las participantes fueron 20 mujeres diagnosticadas de cáncer de mama (Mage = 48,40; SD = 8,98). En este estudio transversal exploratorio, se utilizó una baterÃa de pruebas neuropsicológicas para evaluar el funcionamiento cognitivo de las participantes, asà como una medida de sintomatologÃa traumática. Resultados: Los resultados mostraron que el 35% de los participantes experimentaron sintomatologÃa traumática a niveles clÃnicamente significativos (corte > 35,5). Además, se encontraron correlaciones significativas (p < 0,05) entre la sintomatologÃa traumática y el funcionamiento ejecutivo, en particular la flexibilidad cognitiva. Conclusiones: Aunque de carácter exploratorio, nuestros hallazgos ponen de manifiesto la necesidad de realizar un cribado de la sintomatologÃa traumática en pacientes con cáncer de mama, independientemente de los tratamientos de la enfermedad oncológica, y la necesidad de desarrollar intervenciones dirigidas a estos sÃntomas traumáticos para prevenir el desarrollo de déficits cognitivos. durante las tareas que implican un procesamiento cognitivo y de control de la motivación.
Palabras clave: breast cancer; traumatic symptomatology; cognitive functioning; chemotherapy; cross-sectional study.
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R E S U M O
Objetivo: Este estudo pretende explorar a associação entre sintomatologia traumática e défices no funcionamento cognitivo em mulheres com cancro da mama, em tratamento com quimioterapia. Método: Os participantes são 20 mulheres diagnosticadas com cancro da mama (Midade = 48.40; SD = 8.98). Neste estudo transversal exploratório foram aplicados vários testes neuropsicológicos para avaliar o funcionamento cognitivo das participantes, bem como um questionário para avaliar a sintomatologia traumática. Resultados: Os resultados mostram que 35% das participantes apresentaram sintomatologia traumática clinicamente significativa (ponte de corte > 35.5). Foram encontradas várias correlações significativas entre esta sintomatologia traumática e o funcionamento executivo, sobretudo em termos de flexibilidade cognitiva. Conclusões: Apesar da sua natureza exploratória, os resultados deste estudo mostram a importância de avaliar a sintomatologia traumática nas mulheres com cancro da mama e a necessidade de desenvolver intervenções que trabalharem estes sintomas traumáticos de forma a prevenir o desenvolvimento de défices cognitivos.
Palavras-chave: cancro da mama; sintomatologia traumática; funcionamento cognitivo; quimioterapia; estudo transversal.
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