Schlafstörungen bei Tumorpatienten - eine Pilotstudie

The above presented study examined with a vast amount of test batteries the differences in the frequency of sleeping disorders affected by a range of comorbidities such as pain, depression, anxiety, rumination and social factors in a group of 107 patients with different types of cancer. The interviews that were carried out, showed, that the organic, psychological and social factors of a cancer disease have a significant impact on the sleep quality of the patients. The most frequent comorbidity was the joined occurence of sleeping disorder and depression (86,6%), followed by pain (77,6%). Pain (59,2%) and anxiety (77,4%) on the other hand were often combined with a depressive mood. Cancer patients with a sign for sleeping disorder took more often medication, had more often the tendency to worry and were more often affected by social indicators such as loss of family structure, loss of work and financial problems. To our knowledge this is the first study presented, which examined such a broad variety of known and amnestic factors in context, especially for the first time social aspects. Past studies as well as the direct contact with the patients show, that all stated factors are not part of the overall therapeutic concept in cancer patients. Taking this study as a start to develop a shortened questionnaire as a screening tool could allow future examinations, to allow a recognition of all named factors during the future treatment of cancer patients.