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Biomedical subjects

W H Redd

Publications and source records attributed to W H Redd.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Nausea induced by mental images of chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Although anecdotal reports indicate that patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy can become nauseated outside the chemotherapy clinic when they think or talk about treatment, this phenomenon has not been investigated systematically. METHODS: A series of experimental analyses with individual patients was conducted to explore the possibility that mental images of chemotherapy can elicit nausea in patients who, during the course of their treatment, experienced nausea in anticipation of chemotherapy infusions. Occurrence and intensity of nausea were examined in each patient in response to three imagery scenes: pastoral, a nonchemotherapy medical procedure, and chemotherapy. RESULTS: Eight of 10 patients with clinically documented histories of anticipatory nausea to clinic stimuli experienced nausea when they imagined chemotherapy. They did not become nauseated when they imagined non-chemotherapy medical procedures. For the four patients without prior anticipatory nausea, imaginal reexposure to chemotherapy did not elicit nausea. CONCLUSIONS: Results provide evidence that mental images of chemotherapy elicit nausea in patients with histories of anticipatory nausea and suggest that cognitive factors may play a more important role in the occurrence of chemotherapy side effects than previously recognized.

Adult↗

Formation of food aversions in cancer patients receiving repeated infusions of chemotherapy.

Patients receiving emetogenic chemotherapy for cancer have been found to develop aversions to normal dietary items consumed in close temporal relation to treatment administrations. These aversions are presumed to develop via conditioning processes as demonstrated in experimental studies of food aversion learning. The present study used a prospective, longitudinal design to evaluate the possible role of conditioning in the formation of aversions to normal dietary items in women receiving adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer. Patients were monitored for the development of aversions to foods and beverages consumed in the 24 hr periods before and after each of eight consecutive chemotherapy infusions beginning with the initial infusion. Data on the prevalence, course, and prediction of aversions to normal dietary items are reported. These results pointed to similarities and differences between aversions formed to normal dietary items during chemotherapy treatment and aversions formed to taste stimuli during experimental conditioning studies. In addition to their theoretical significance, results also suggest possible strategies for preventing the clinical problem of aversions to normal dietary items in chemotherapy patients.

Adult↗

Anticipatory anxiety in women receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer.

This study examined (a) the prevalence and course of anxiety before the 1st 6 infusions of cancer chemotherapy and (b) the contribution of trait anxiety, side effect expectations, and prior occurrence of posttreatment side effects to anxiety before infusions. Fifty-three women receiving adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer participated. Anxiety was most prevalent and intense before the 1st infusion. Trait anxiety predicted anxiety before both the 1st and subsequent infusions. Prior occurrence of posttreatment nervousness also predicted anxiety before subsequent infusions, even after accounting for trait anxiety and other posttreatment side effects. Results are discussed in terms of the role that anxiety proneness, response expectancy, and classical conditioning may play in the development of anxiety before repeated chemotherapy infusions.

Adult↗

Treatment adherence difficulties among children with cancer: the role of parenting style.

Investigated the prevalence of treatment adherence problems among children undergoing cancer treatment and explored the relationship of sociodemographic factors, child functional status, and parenting style to these difficulties. Nurse ratings of adherence difficulties encountered during the cancer treatment regimen were completed on 77 children and their caregivers. A subset of caregivers also completed a measure of parenting attitudes and practices. Results indicated that certain adherence difficulties were related to the child's age and functional status, the family's socioeconomic status (SES), and parenting style. The child's age was related to adherence to procedure-related tasks; younger children had more frequent problems with completing these tasks. More functional children had a greater number of adherence problems. Families with a lower SES had more difficulties with timeliness and cancellations/delays of clinic appointments and promptness of reporting of the child's reactions to treatment. Children of caregivers who had a more "supportive" parenting style (were more sensitive to children's input, had a less restrictive attitude towards parenting, and were more nurturant) canceled and delayed fewer appointments, were on time more frequently for appointments, and reported reactions to treatment with less delay. Implications of these findings for future research on treatment adherence and for clinical interventions are discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Treatment related psychological distress during adjuvant chemotherapy as a conditioned response.

Patients receiving cycles of cytotoxic chemotherapy for cancer often experience noxious side effects following treatments and may develop classically conditioned side effects, such as anticipatory nausea and vomiting (ANV) during the course of repeated infusions. The present study explored the possibility that classical conditioning processes may also contribute to treatment related psychological distress. Sixty-six patients, scheduled for adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer (stages I, II, IIIa), agreed to participate. Patients were assessed in the clinic on the first day of every chemotherapy cycle and in their homes three to five days before their final cycle. Patients experienced considerable psychological distress during the course of chemotherapy, and particularly before the first infusion. Prior to the last cycle of chemotherapy, psychological distress was significantly higher in the clinic environment than in patients' homes. Consistent with classical conditioning, psychological distress did not escalate over the days before treatment, but rather increased abruptly when patients returned to the clinic. The results of the present study indicate that several factors are involved in patients' anticipatory psychological distress and highlight the potential contribution that conditioning processes may make to patients' emotional distress in the clinic environment.

Adult↗

Adult-child interaction during invasive medical procedures.

Adult-child interactions during stressful medical procedures were investigated in 43 pediatric patients videotaped during a venipuncture procedure in the course of cancer treatment. Relations among six adult behavior categories (explain, distract, command to engage in coping behavior, give control to the child, praise, and criticize/threat/bargain) and three child behavior categories (momentary distress, cry/scream, and cope) were examined using correlational and sequential analysis. Results indicated that adult distraction resulted in increased child coping and reduced momentary distress and crying. Adult explanations, although a likely response to child distress and crying, did not result in a reduction of these behaviors. Attempts to give the child control reduced child crying. Implications for clinical interventions during painful medical procedures are discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Physiologic and psychobehavioral research in oncology.

A major thrust in research in psychosocial oncology is the study of the interaction of psychologic and physiologic variables. This discussion reviews the current status and future directions of such research. Areas addressed include pain, nausea and vomiting with chemotherapy, sexuality, effects of cancer on psychologic and neuropsychologic function, impact of psychologic factors on cancer and its treatment, and psychoneuroimmunology. In addition, specific recommendations for strategies to facilitate research in these areas of psychosocial oncology are proposed.

Adult↗

Anticipatory immune suppression and nausea in women receiving cyclic chemotherapy for ovarian cancer.

Nausea and immune function were assessed in 20 cancer patients in the hospital prior to chemotherapy and compared with assessments conducted at home. Proliferative responses to T-cell mitogens were lower for cells isolated from hospital blood samples than for home samples obtained several days earlier. Patients also experienced increased nausea in the hospital. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that decreased immune function in the hospital was not related to increased anxiety. The observed anticipatory immune suppression is consistent with the hypothesis that chemotherapy patients may develop conditioned immune suppression as well as conditioned nausea after repeated pairings of hospital stimuli with the emetic and immunosuppressive effects of chemotherapy.

Adult↗

Behavioral intervention to reduce child and parent distress during venipuncture.

This study investigated a behavioral intervention incorporating parent coaching, attentional distraction, and positive reinforcement to control child distress during invasive cancer treatment. Children (N = 23) requiring physical restraint to complete venipuncture were alternately assigned to either a behavioral intervention or an attention control condition. Child distress behaviors were recorded, and self-reports of parent, child, and nurse distress were obtained. Parent and nurse also rated child distress. Results of planned comparisons indicate that observed child distress, parent-rated child distress, and parent ratings of his/her own distress were significantly reduced by behavioral intervention and were maintained across the course of three intervention trials. The use of physical restraint to manage child behavior was also significantly reduced. Child self-reported pain and nurse ratings of child distress were not significantly affected.

Attention↗

Analysis of child and parent behavior during painful medical procedures.

Examined (a) the impact of demographic, medical, and psychological factors on overall child distress during an invasive medical procedure required for pediatric cancer treatment and (b) the relationship of individual parent behaviors to child distress across phases of the procedure. Seventy 3- to 10-year-old pediatric cancer patients receiving outpatient venipuncture and their parents participated. Overall distress was greater in younger children who had fewer previous venipunctures and poorer venous access and whose parents rated them prior to the procedure as less likely to be cooperative. Providing explanations regarding the procedure was the parent behavior most clearly associated with child distress. The impact of parent explanation depended on when the explanation was given and on the child's level of distress at the time.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Prevalence, predictors, and course of anticipatory nausea in women receiving adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer.

Factors related to the prevalence, prediction, and course of anticipatory nausea (AN) in women (n = 77) receiving adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer were examined. Using a prospective longitudinal research design, patients were interviewed both before and after each chemotherapy infusion. Fifty-seven percent of the patients developed AN. These patients were characterized by more severe gastrointestinal side effects following the initial infusion and greater expectations for experiencing chemotherapy-related nausea. A more rapid development of AN was related to a history of experiencing nausea across a greater variety of situations, higher IV drug doses, and less infusion-related anxiety at the initial infusion. Although AN occurred intermittently across treatment sessions, severity was constant. Results provided strong support for the hypothesis that classical conditioning processes are instrumental in AN acquisition. The role of anxiety in the development of AN is considered as are clinical implications for the prevention of AN and recommendations for future research.

Adult↗

Emotions and cancer. New perspectives on an old question.

This article outlines current issues in the study of psychological factors and cancer: (1) the role of psychological factors in disease promotion and progression, (2) the impact of neoplastic disease and its treatment on psychosocial functioning, and (3) the long-term impact of cancer and cancer treatment on the survivor and issues of family bereavement following the death of a cancer patient. The discussion ends with a consideration of future directions for research.

Emotions↗

Nonpharmacologic factors in the development of posttreatment nausea with adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer.

A prospective, longitudinal design was used to determine the role of nonpharmacologic factors in the development of posttreatment nausea (PTN). Forty-five women with no previous chemotherapy experience who were receiving a single regimen of adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer were interviewed before and after their first six infusions. Seventy-one percent of patients developed PTN. The PTN was related to the following: patients' physical status at the onset of treatment; heightened anxiety during infusions; susceptibility to nausea and vomiting after eating certain foods; and expectations of developing chemotherapy-related nausea. Anxiety during infusions, susceptibility to nausea and vomiting, and expectations of side effects also accounted for differences in the frequency, intensity, and severity of PTN. These findings offer strong support for the view that nonpharmacologic factors contribute to individual differences in gastrointestinal responses to chemotherapy.

Adult↗