Increased risk of hallucinations among people with cancer: Role of loneliness, job satisfaction, sleep and a moderated-mediated model of anxiety and life satisfaction
Caroline Kamau, Bárbara Lopes
Journal of Psychiatric Research October 4, 2024 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.09.041 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Longitudinal Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 7,586 |
| Population | English adults aged 50 and older participating in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, including 1,082 with cancer |
| Topics | Anxiety |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key findings | Cancer was associated with higher odds of self-reported hallucinations, although hallucinations were rare (19 of 7,586 participants, 0.3%). Loneliness, discrimination, poor job and life satisfaction, anxiety, low autonomy/control, and restless sleep were also associated with hallucinations. The authors report that life satisfaction mediated and anxiety symptoms moderated these relationships, and they argue that interventions are needed to protect mental health after cancer diagnosis and during treatment. |
Abstract
Being diagnosed with cancer and coping with fears about potential death might trigger acute distress. Previous research found that patients with cancer are 1.85 times more at risk of developing mental illness. Whereas previous studies investigated the risk of schizophrenia, no studies have investigated the risk of individual psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations. This was an analysis of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing involving 7586 adults of whom 1082 have cancer. There were 19 (0.3%) who self-reported hallucinations, and logistic regression showed that cancer patients had higher odds of hallucinating. Loneliness, discrimination, poor job satisfaction, poor life satisfaction, anxiety, low level of autonomy/control and having restless sleep were also associated with hallucinations. Cancer patients had higher odds of poor life satisfaction, which was also predicted by loneliness, discrimination, job satisfaction, anxiety symptoms, autonomy/control and restless sleep. Further results of a moderated mediation model showed that cancer, loneliness, and job satisfaction were directly associated with hallucinations, and life satisfaction was a mediator. Anxiety symptoms also moderated the relationships with hallucinations. Cancer is associated with a higher risk of hallucinations, and other aspects of mental wellbeing (e.g., anxiety and life satisfaction) are also important. Interventions are needed which safeguard mental health after cancer diagnosis and during treatment.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on anxiety, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Antidepressant effects of a single dose of ayahuasca in patients with recurrent depression: a preliminary report Patients with a depressive disorder | 2015 | Observational study | |
| Patterning of Cognitive and Somatic Processes in the Self-Regulation of Anxiety: Effects of Meditation versus Exercise Regular practitioners of physical exercise or meditation | 1978 | Retrospective study | n = 77 |
| Dynamic coupling of whole-brain neuronal and neurotransmitter systems Healthy humans | 2020 | Observational study | |
| Psychedelics not linked to mental health problems or suicidal behavior: A population study Randomly selected United States adults | 2015 | Observational cohort | n = 135,095 |
Citations in the library
Cites 2
- Can we respond mindfully to distressing voices? A systematic review of evidence for engagement, acceptability, effectiveness and mechanisms of change for mindfulness-based interventions for people distressed by hearing voices. Frontiers in Psychology August 14, 2015
- Prevalence of hallucinations and their pathological associations in the general population. Psychiatry Research December 27, 2000