The Interdependence of Depressive Symptoms and Sleep in Dyads Affected by Cancer

Objective: To examine the rates as well as the interdependence of depressive symptoms and sleep problems in patients with cancer and their intimate partner family caregivers. Method: Patients diagnosed with cancer (69.3 years old, 56.9% male) and their intimate family caregivers (63.8 years old, 30.7% male) were enrolled in the study (n = 188 dyads). Both patients and intimate partner family caregivers completed the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Descriptive statistics and Actor-Partner Interdependence Modeling were used to test the hypotheses. Results: The rates of depressive symptoms in the clinical range were 39% for patients and 33% in intimate partner family caregivers. A mean of 6.3 (SD = 1.9) and 6.5 (SD = 1.5) hours of sleep was reported by patients with cancer and intimate partner family caregivers. The mean sleep efficiency (76.6% and 81.3%) and sleep quality (8.25 and 7.2) were poor for both partners. After covarying for age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, pain, and cancer stage, patients' depressive symptoms were associated with their own shorter sleep duration. Patient depressive symptoms were associated with their own and their partners' f poorer sleep efficiency and poorer sleep quality. Caregivers' depressive symptoms were also associated with their own poorer sleep quality. Conclusions: The mood of both partners affect on sleep, and potentially health, was underscored by the findings. The development of dyadic interventions is warranted to improve both mood and sleep in both the patient and caregivers in the context of cancer. Objetivo: Los objetivos del estudio fueron examinar las tasas y la interdependencia de los s & iacute;ntomas depresivos y los problemas del sue & ntilde;o en pacientes con c & aacute;ncer y sus cuidadores familiares. M & eacute;todos: Se incluyeron en el estudio un total de 188 pacientes diagnosticados de c & aacute;ncer (69.3 a & ntilde;os, 56.9% hombres) y sus cuidadores familiares (63.8 a & ntilde;os, 30.7% hombres). Tanto los pacientes como los cuidadores familiares completaron el Centro de Estudios Epidemiol & oacute;gicos: Depresi & oacute;n y el & Iacute;ndice de Calidad del Sue & ntilde;o de Pittsburgh. Se utilizaron estad & iacute;sticas descriptivas y modelos de interdependencia actor-socio para probar las hip & oacute;tesis. Resultados: Las tasas de s & iacute;ntomas depresivos en el rango cl & iacute;nico fueron del 39% para los pacientes y del 33% en los cuidadores familiares. Los pacientes con c & aacute;ncer y sus cuidadores familiares informaron una media de 6.3 (DE = 1.9) y 6.5 (DE 1.5) horas de sue & ntilde;o. La eficiencia media del sue & ntilde;o (76.6% y 81.3%) y la calidad del sue & ntilde;o (8.25 y 7.2) fueron deficientes para los pacientes y sus cuidadores familiares. Despu & eacute;s de covariar por edad, sexo, & iacute;ndice de masa corporal, tabaquismo, dolor y estadio del c & aacute;ncer; los s & iacute;ntomas depresivos de los pacientes se asociaron con una duraci & oacute;n m & aacute;s corta del sue & ntilde;o. Los s & iacute;ntomas depresivos de los pacientes se asociaron con su propia eficiencia y calidad del sue & ntilde;o y las de sus cuidadores familiares. Los propios s & iacute;ntomas depresivos de los pacientes y sus cuidadores se asociaron con una peor calidad del sue & ntilde;o. Conclusiones: Los hallazgos de este estudio subrayaron la importancia de los s & iacute;ntomas depresivos propios y de los cuidadores familiares sobre el sue & ntilde;o. Se justifica el desarrollo de intervenciones di & aacute;dicas para mejorar la calidad de vida tanto del paciente como de los cuidadores en el contexto del c & aacute;ncer.