Conference Proceedings - School of Nursing & Midwifery - Trinity ...

School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin: 8 th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference
Transforming Healthcare Through Research, Education & Technology: 7 th – 9 th November 2007
Conference Proceedings
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The Relationship between Stress, Fatigue and Depression in Women
Cancer Survivors.
Presenter
Ms Louise Murphy BSc. RPN MSc. Candidate
Department of Nursing,
Waterford Institute of Technology,
Cork Road,
Waterford.
Tel: 086 8880509
e-mail: lomurphy@wit.ie
Co-author
Dr. Martina Gooney BSc. PhD
Department of Nursing,
Waterford Institute of Technology,
Cork Road,
Waterford.
Tel: +353 51 302194
e-mail: mgooney@wit.ie
Background and Context: Cancer has been recognized as a
psychosocial stressor. As a result, fatigue and depression in patients
with cancer occurs commonly and can have adverse affects on each
individual’s quality of life. However, cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is
seldomly assessed and treated by health care professionals as the
aetiology and treatments available for CRF remain unclear.
Aim of the Study: This study aims to examine the hypothesis that
alterations in the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis are
involved in the development of feelings of fatigue and depression in
cancer survivors. Consequently, the primary aim is to provide
systemic research on the pathogenesis of CRF.
Methodology: A sample of women cancer survivors and an agedmatched
control population are being recruited to establish the
prevalence of fatigue and depression. All participants completed
three questionnaires including the Multi-dimensional Fatigue
Symptom Inventory- Short Form (MFSI-SF) and the Piper Fatigue
scale (PFS) to analyze fatigue, while depression was assessed using
the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Cortisol levels were measured
in saliva samples collected by participants for up to one hour upon
awakening on two consecutive days.
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