Main author: Snæfríður Guðmundsdóttir Aspelund
Institution or Company: Department of Psychology, Reykjavik University
Co-Author, Institution or Company:
Hannah Rós Sigurðardóttir Tobin, Department of Psychology, Reykjavik University. Huldís Franksdóttir Daly, Department of Psychology, Reykjavik University. Kamilla Rún Jóhannsdóttir, Department of Psychology, Reykjavik University. Þórhildur Halldórsdóttir, Department of Psychology, Reykjavik University. Jakob Fannar Stefánsson, Department of Psychology, Reykjavik University. Birna Baldursdóttir, Department of Psychology, Reykjavik University. Heiðdís B. Valdimarsdóttir, Department of Psychology, Reykjavik University.
Introduction: Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is among the most common and feared side-effects of breast cancer (BC). CRCI remains understudied despite being highly prevalent and long-lasting. Previous studies have mostly focused on CRCI during and following BC treatment so the aim of the current study was to explore CRCI before any BC treatment and its psychological correlates. This study is the first to examine CRCI among BC patients in Iceland.
Methods: Participants comprised 37 newly diagnosed, and treatment naïve, women with BC who underwent a neuropsychological assessment and completed mental health measures. Working memory was assessed with the OSPAN task and patient experience of their cognitive function with the PROMIS Cognitive Function and PROMIS Cognitive Function Abilities. Depression was assessed with the CES-D, post-traumatic distress with the IES-R, anxiety with the GAD-7 and fatigue with the FACIT-F.
Results: Participants differed significantly from the population average in experienced cognitive function and cognitive abilities. Participants with subjective cognitive impairment (characterized as 1.5 SD below the population average) were significantly more likely to score above established cutoffs indicating clinical levels of fatigue, depression and post-traumatic distress. Participants scoring above these cutoffs on depression, post-traumatic distress, anxiety or fatigue also had significantly lower working memory capacity compared to those endorsing lower levels of mental health problems.
Conclusions: These preliminary results suggest that CRCI may start prior to BC treatment and could potentially be associated with symptoms of depression, post-traumatic distress, anxiety and fatigue. These results may inform the management of CRCI in the future.
