Mood states in long-term cancer survivors: an Italian descriptive survey

Purpose Since long-term survivorship is now a reality for an increasing number of people with cancer, understanding their mood states (i.e., transient subjective emotional states) can inform health-care policy as well as help support individual patients. This study described the mood states of Italian longterm cancer survivors, compared them with normative data, and tested their association with the main clinical and socio-demographic sample's characteristics. Methods One hundred and fifty-eight Italian adults free from cancer and its treatments for at least 5 years were administered the Profile of Mood States (POMS) and two ad hoc 0 -10-point visual-analogue scales on personal health-related worry and risk perception for a personal relapse, respectively. Results In comparison with the Italian nor illative sample, the current sample displayed a higher score in Vigor-Activity (p = 0.003) and a lower score in Confusion-Bewilderment (p=0.008). In Tension-Anxiety, Confusion-Bewilderment, Depression-Dejection, Anger-Hostility, Fatigue-Inertia, and Vigor-Activity, 14.6, 15.9, 17.1, 17.8, 19.7, and 13.3 % of the sample, respectively, displayed meaningful scores (i.e., scores above or below 1 standard deviation from the normative mean score). The mood state profile POMS-provided was associated with gender (p = 0.002), occupational status (p= 0.003), reported health issues (p <0.001), and quality of sleep (p<0.001). In personal health-related worry and risk perception for a personal relapse, the average scores were 4.8 (SD=3.0) and 4.1 (SD = 2.9), respectively. Conclusions These data encourage a multidimensional assessment of emotional functioning of this specific population.