Demoralization Syndrome Among Elderly Patients with Cancer Disease

Demoralization is distinctive psychological distress that involves hopelessness, helplessness, loss of purpose and meaning, and existential distress. Cancer patients' demoralization has been well documented, but little is known regarding older cancer patients and the related factors. Therefore, this study evaluated demoralization syndrome in older cancer patients. Cancer patients over 61 years old (n = 113, female 59.3%, mean age 65.7 years, range 61–80) diagnosed with heterogeneous types of cancer were recruited. They completed questionnaires in a hospital's inpatient and outpatient units. Their demoralization was measured using the Demoralization Scale-Mandarin Version (DS-MV). The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Distress Thermometer (DT), Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSS), and Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) were used to measure other psychological statuses and the association with demoralization. The mean DS-MV score was 28.1 (SD = 16.3). In this sample, 57.7% had moderate to high demoralization (18.6% had moderate demoralization, and 38.1% had high demoralization). Twenty-three percent reported a DT score of five and above, 5.5% reported a PHQ-9 score of 10 and above, and 23.9% reported a BSS score greater than zero. Demoralization was associated with suicide ideation, depression, distress, lower education, and the cancer site. Demoralization was not associated with posttraumatic growth, gender, work status, or religion. More than half of older cancer patients have moderate to high demoralization and it is associated with depression, suicide ideation, and distress. Screening and interventions that are better tailored to older cancer patients could improve the quality of care in cancer treatment.