ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Psychol., 07 June 2023

Sec. Psychology for Clinical Settings

Volume 14 - 2023 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1133470

Reminiscence therapy-based care program alleviates anxiety and depression, as well as improves the quality of life in recurrent gastric cancer patients

  • 1. Department of General Surgery, HanDan Central Hospital, Handan, China

  • 2. Department of Hematology, HanDan Central Hospital, Handan, China

Abstract

Objective:

Reminiscence therapy is a non-drug method that eases psychological burden and enhances quality of life by memories and communications in cancer patients. This study aimed to evaluate influence of reminiscence therapy-based care program on anxiety, depression, and quality of life in recurrent gastric cancer patients.

Methods:

Totally, 96 recurrent gastric cancer patients were randomly assigned as 1:1 ratio into reminiscence therapy-based care group (N = 48) and usual care group (N = 48) to receive 12-week corresponding interventions. Besides, all patients were follow-up for 6 months.

Results:

Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scales-anxiety score at 4th month (p = 0.031) and 6th month (p = 0.004), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scales-depression score at 6th month (p = 0.018), and anxiety severity at 4th month (p = 0.041) and 6th month (p = 0.037) were lower in reminiscence therapy-based care group than in usual care group. Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 global health status score at 2nd month (p = 0.048), 4th month (p = 0.036), and 6th month (p = 0.014), Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 function score at 4th month (p = 0.014) and 6th month (p = 0.021) were higher, while Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 symptoms score at 2nd month (p = 0.041) and 4th month (p = 0.035) were lower in reminiscence therapy-based care group than in usual care group. Furthermore, reminiscence therapy-based care was more effective on improving mental health and quality of life in recurrent gastric cancer patients with anxiety or depression at baseline than those without.

Conclusion:

Reminiscence therapy-based care serves as an effective intervention, which relieves anxiety and depression, and improves quality of life in recurrent gastric cancer patients.

1. Introduction

Gastric cancer (GC) has high morbidity and mortality globally, which causes more than one million new cases and over 700,000 new deaths in 2020 (Thrift and El-Serag, 2020; Sung et al., 2021). Moreover, the risk factors for GC include family history, poor diet, alcohol, etc. (Machlowska et al., 2020). Meanwhile, the mainstay of GC treatment is surgical resection, and other treatments include chemotherapy, targeted drug therapy, immunotherapy and so on (Machlowska et al., 2020; Sexton et al., 2020; Joshi and Badgwell, 2021). Although advances in diagnosis and treatment modalities have been made to increase the survival of patients, GC patients still face a high risk of recurrence (Moon et al., 2007; de Liano et al., 2008; Kong et al., 2015; Jiao et al., 2020). Due to a series of adverse physiological reactions caused by long-term illness and treatments, recurrent GC patients usually have a huge psychological burden, which could induce anxiety and depression (Han, 2020; Zhang, 2021). In addition, their quality of life is also unsatisfactory, which may lead to deterioration of those patients’ conditions and even death (Zieren et al., 1998). Therefore, how to alleviate the anxiety and depression, as well as enhance quality of life in recurrent GC patients is a matter of concern.

Reminiscence therapy (RT) is a non-drug intervention therapy that guides people to review past memories and share life experiences under some tangible cues (such as photos, music, and recordings), it reduces negative reminiscence and increases positive reminiscence, thus alleviating mental health and improving quality of life in patients (Macleod et al., 2021; Sun et al., 2023). A previous study shows that RT is a prospective nursing modality to relieve the anxiety and depression of glioma patients (Zhao, 2021). Moreover, other researchers suggest that RT can also relieve the anxiety and depression and enhance quality of life in postoperative patients with non-small cell lung cancer, surgical prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, etc. (Liu and Li, 2021; Zhou and Sun, 2021; Huang et al., 2022). In addition, one study reports that RT eases anxiety and enhances quality of life in postoperative new-diagnosed GC patients (Zhang et al., 2021). The above studies exhibit the potential of RT as an intervention to alleviate anxiety and depression, as well as improve quality of life in cancer patients, however, the effect of RT on these aspects for recurrent GC patients is still unidentified.

Therefore, the current study was to compare the effect of RT-based care (RTC) program with usual care (UC) program on anxiety, depression, and quality of life in recurrent GC patients.

2. Methods

2.1. Participants

In this randomized, controlled trial, between Aug. 2019 and Oct. 2021, 96 patients with recurrent GC were enrolled. The inclusion criteria were: (Thrift and El-Serag, 2020) patients with age older than 18 years; (Sung et al., 2021) patients with recurrent GC; (Machlowska et al., 2020) patients who were able to complete the assessment independently; (Sexton et al., 2020) patients who were willing to communicate with others. The exclusion criteria were: (Thrift and El-Serag, 2020) patients complicated with primary malignancies other than GC; (Sung et al., 2021) patients with neurological diseases, cognitive dysfunction, or mental illness; (Machlowska et al., 2020) patients without the capability of normal communication. The Institution Review Board of HanDan Central Hospital approved this trial. Written informed consent were obtained from all patients.

2.2. Randomization

After enrollment, patients were randomly assigned to receive UC program (UC group) and RTC program (RTC group). The block randomization method was applied to propose a random allocation table with a block size of 4 to achieve a 1:1 random assignment. Then, the random allocation information of each patient was closured in an opaque wrapper, corresponding to the enrollment series number of the patient. Based on that, the opaque wrappers were given to the eligible patients and then the participants were allocated to the corresponding group.

2.3. Intervention

Based on the grouping, patients received UC or RTC program. The interventions were performed in the group form (8–10 patients per group) in the health care center of our hospital every week for 12 weeks.

Patients in the UC group received health education after enrollment, which included an outline of recurrent GC, treatment, adverse events and management, examinations, self-monitoring, diet and lifestyle, and psychological health. During the UC program, the multimedia information and communication technology such as tablet personal computer and large-screened monitors were used as needed. Besides, the health promotion brochures were distributed at the same time and available for patients to consult at any time. UC was lasted for 30 min each time. Two trained nurses hosted UC.

Patients in the RTC group received RTC at our hospital. RTC was constituted with two parts: (i) health education, which was the same as that in the UC group and (ii) RT. RT was performed in group and on the basis of 12 topics: (Thrift and El-Serag, 2020) self-introduction and a brief outline of your family; (Sung et al., 2021) sharing childhood memories; (Machlowska et al., 2020) sharing campus life; (Sexton et al., 2020) sharing memories of marriage (memories of love for patients not married); (Joshi and Badgwell, 2021) sharing unique traditions of your homeland; (Jiao et al., 2020) sharing the stories in your career (the stories of teamwork for patients who had not been employed); (Moon et al., 2007) sharing a memorable travel experience; (de Liano et al., 2008) sharing your best-loved movie or songs; (Kong et al., 2015) sharing your personal leisure pursuit; (Zhang, 2021) sharing your best-loved historical figure and their well-known legend; (Han, 2020) talent show; (Zieren et al., 1998) review and summarization. During the RTC program, the multimedia information and communication technology were also used, and the health promotion brochures were distributed as well. The duration of each RTC was 100 min, including 30 min of health education, 10 min of break, and 60 min of RT. Two trained nurses hosted the RTC, motivated the patients to communicate, and kept the whole procedure in order.

2.4. Evaluation

At baseline (M0), 1st month (M1), 2nd month (M2), 4th month (M4), and 6th month (M6), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scales (HADS) and Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (QLQ-C30) were assessed (Aaronson et al., 1993; Wu et al., 2021). Anxiety and depression were considered to exist if HADS-anxiety (HADS-A)/HADS-depression (HADS-D) score > 7; and the severity of anxiety and depression was divided based on HADS-A/HADS-D score as follows: <7, no; 7–10, mild, 11–14, moderate; >14, severe. QLQ-C30 included global health status score, function score, and symptoms scores.

2.5. Sample size calculation

The size of sample was reckoned on the basis of that the mean QLQ-C30 Global health status at M6 was hypothesized to be 75 (standard deviation (SD) = 25) in the RTC group, and 60 (SD = 20) in the UC group (Li et al., 2022). The significance level was set as 0.05, and the power was set as 0.8. Therefore, the minimal sample size was required to be 35 in each group. Given that 25% patients may lost to follow-up or die during 6 months, the final size of sample was required to be 48 in each group.

2.6. Statistics

SPSS (22.0, IBM) and Graphpad Prism (6.01, GraphPad Software Inc.) was adopted for data analyses and figure illustration, accordingly. The intention-to-treat (ITT) principal was adopted in this study. Student’s t-test, Chi-square test, or Wilcoxon rank-sum test was utilized to compare variables between groups. Trend within group was determined using repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), McNemar’s test, or Friedman’s test. Statistical significance was considered if a p value<0.05.

3. Results

3.1. Study flow

In total, 106 recurrent GC patients were invited, 10 of whom were excluded from this study, including 4 patients who fit the exclusion criteria or did not fit the inclusion criteria, and 6 patients who refused to participate. Next, the rest of 96 patients were eligible and randomly assigned as 1:1 ratio into UC group (N = 48) and RTC group (N = 48) to receive UC and RTC interventions for 12 weeks, respectively. During 6-month follow-up period, there were 14 (29.2%) patients who lost follow-up in the UC group, including 4 patients at M2, 6 patients at M4, and 4 patients at M6. Meanwhile, there were 15 (31.3%) patients losing follow-up in the RTC group, including 5 patients at M2, 6 patients at M4, and 4 patients at M6. In addition, HADS scores and QLQ-C30 scores were appraised at M0, M1, M2, M4 and M6, respectively. All 96 patients were analyzed based on ITT principle (Figure 1).

Figure 1

3.2. Baseline features of UC group and RTC group

The UC group included 35 (72.9%) males and 13 (27.1%) females, whose mean age was 57.4 ± 11.9 years. Moreover, the RTC group included 29 (60.4%) males and 19 (39.6%) females, whose mean age was 60.9 ± 10.7 years. Meanwhile, there was no discrepancy in baseline features between groups, including demographics, medical histories, disease information at diagnosis and at recurrence, treatment information for recurrence, and baseline HADS and QLQ-C30 scores (all p > 0.05) (Table 1).

Table 1

UC group (N = 48)RTC group (N = 48)p value
Demographics
Age (years), mean ± SD57.4 ± 11.960.9 ± 10.70.138
Gender, n (%)0.194
Male35 (72.9)29 (60.4)
Female13 (27.1)19 (39.6)
Education duration (years), mean ± SD9.9 ± 3.610.6 ± 4.20.331
Marital status, n (%)0.346
Married38 (79.2)34 (70.8)
Single/divorced/widowed10 (20.8)14 (29.2)
Employment status, n (%)0.805
Employed10 (20.8)11 (22.9)
Unemployed38 (79.2)37 (77.1)
History of smoke, n (%)14 (29.2)18 (37.5)0.386
History of drink, n (%)18 (37.5)22 (45.8)0.408
Medical histories
History of hypertension, n (%)22 (45.8)23 (47.9)0.838
History of hyperlipidemia, n (%)10 (20.8)14 (29.2)0.346
History of diabetes, n (%)6 (12.5)9 (18.8)0.399
H.pylori infection, n (%)28 (58.3)21 (43.8)0.153
Disease information at diagnosis
Tumor location at diagnosis, n (%)0.340
Cardia16 (33.3)20 (41.7)
Gastric body22 (45.8)15 (31.3)
Gastric antrum10 (20.8)13 (27.1)
Pathological grade at diagnosis, n (%)0.090
G15 (10.4)9 (18.8)
G224 (50.0)27 (56.3)
G319 (39.6)12 (25.0)
Tumor size at diagnosis (cm), mean ± SD3.5 ± 1.13.7 ± 1.20.323
T stage at diagnosis, n (%)0.715
11 (2.1)1 (2.1)
22 (4.2)2 (4.2)
345 (93.8)44 (91.7)
40 (0.0)0 (0.0)
N stage at diagnosis, n (%)0.583
013 (27.1)12 (25.0)
110 (20.8)15 (31.3)
219 (39.6)17 (35.4)
36 (12.5)4 (8.3)
M stage at diagnosis, n (%)–
048 (100.0)48 (100.0)
10 (0.0)0 (0.0)
TNM stage at diagnosis, n (%)0.644
13 (6.3)2 (4.2)
220 (41.7)24 (50.0)
325 (52.1)22 (45.8)
Disease information at recurrence
Time to recurrence, n (%)0.734
<3 years15 (31.3)11 (22.9)
3–5 years15 (31.3)20 (41.7)
≥5 years18 (37.5)17 (35.4)
Recurrent tumor location, n (%)0.065
Cardia19 (39.6)17 (35.4)
Gastric body26 (54.2)30 (41.7)
Gastric antrum3 (6.3)11 (22.9)
Distance metastases at recurrence, n (%)0.519
No33 (68.8)30 (62.5)
Yes15 (31.3)18 (37.5)
Treatment information for recurrence
Chemotherapy, n (%)–
No0 (0.0)0 (0.0)
Yes48 (100.0)48 (100.0)
Radiotherapy, n (%)0.138
No27 (56.3)34 (70.8)
Yes21 (43.8)14 (29.2)
Targeted drug therapy, n (%)0.670
No18 (37.5)16 (33.3)
Yes30 (62.5)32 (66.7)
ICI treatment, n (%)0.805
No37 (77.1)38 (79.2)
Yes11 (22.9)10 (20.8)
Baseline assessment
HADS-A score, mean ± SD8.7 ± 3.48.2 ± 3.20.441
HADS-D score, mean ± SD7.6 ± 2.97.5 ± 2.70.858
QLQ-C30 global health status score, mean ± SD59.9 ± 17.461.8 ± 14.90.568
QLQ-C30 function score, mean ± SD55.3 ± 17.757.2 ± 16.60.578
QLQ-C30 symptoms score, mean ± SD42.2 ± 18.941.2 ± 15.80.766

Baseline characteristics.

UC, usual care program; RTC, reminiscence therapy-based care program; H.pylori: helicobacter pylori; TNM, tumor, node, metastasis; ICI, immune check-point inhibitor; HADS-A, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-anxiety; HADS-D, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-depression; QLQ-C30, Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30; SD, standard deviation. -: Unable to perform statistics.

3.3. Comparison of anxiety and depression between groups

HADS-A score at M4 (6.1 ± 2.0 vs. 7.3 ± 2.6) (p = 0.031) and M6 (5.5 ± 2.1 vs. 7.2 ± 2.6) (p = 0.004) were lower in RTC group than in UC group. Notably, HADS-A score was gradually reduced from M0 to M6 in RTC group (p < 0.001) and UC group (p = 0.001), respectively (Figure 2A), moreover, HADS-D score at M6 was lower in RTC group than in UC group (5.0 ± 2.3 vs. 6.4 ± 2.5) (p = 0.018), HADS-D score was also gradually decreased from M0 to M6 in RTC group (p < 0.001) and UC group (p = 0.017), respectively (Figure 2B).

Figure 2

Generally, there was no distinction of anxiety rate or depression rate at any assessment time points between groups (all p > 0.05). Interestingly, anxiety rate was declined continually from M0 to M6 in RTC group (p = 0.002), while it did not change in UC group (p = 0.125). Meanwhile, depression rate did not change longitudinally in RTC group (p = 0.064) or UC group (p = 0.328) (Figures 3A,B). However, anxiety rate at M6 tended to be lower in RTC group than in UC group (p = 0.051).

Figure 3

Besides, there was no discrepancy of anxiety severity at M0, M1, or M2 between groups (all p > 0.05) (Figures 4A–C), however, anxiety severity at M4 (p = 0.041) and M6 (p = 0.037) were different between RTC group and UC group. Meanwhile, anxiety severity changed longitudinally in RTC group (p < 0.001) and UC group (p = 0.002), respectively (Figures 4D–E). Regarding depression severity, no difference was found at any assessment time points between groups (all p > 0.05). Moreover, depression severity was changed longitudinally in RTC group (p = 0.042), but it did not change in UC group (p = 0.414) (Figures 4F–J).

Figure 4

3.4. Comparison of QLQ-C30 scores between groups

QLQ-C30 global health status score at M2 (72.2 ± 14.2 vs. 66.3 ± 13.4) (p = 0.048), M4 (75.9 ± 17.1 vs. 67.8 ± 16.0) (p = 0.036), and M6 (78.6 ± 16.6 vs. 68.2 ± 17.0) (p = 0.014) were higher in RTC group than in UC group. Meanwhile, QLQ-C30 global health status score was gradually increased from M0 to M6 in RTC group (p < 0.001) and UC group (p < 0.001) (Figure 5A). QLQ-C30 function score at M4 (74.5 ± 15.9 vs. 66.0 ± 13.5) (p = 0.014) and M6 (76.5 ± 14.4 vs. 67.9 ± 15.4) (p = 0.021) were also higher in RTC group than in UC group. Moreover, QLQ-C30 function score was gradually elevated from M0 to M6 in RTC group (p < 0.001) and UC group (p < 0.001) (Figure 5B). Regarding QLQ-C30 symptoms score, it at M2 (28.6 ± 14.9 vs. 36.1 ± 18.5) (p = 0.041) and M4 (26.8 ± 14.3 vs. 34.8 ± 17.7) (p = 0.035) were lower in RTC group than in UC group. Furthermore, QLQ-C30 symptoms score was gradually declined from M0 to M6 in RTC group (p < 0.001) and UC group (p < 0.001) (Figure 5C).

Figure 5

3.5. Subgroup analysis of HADS scores and QLQ-C30 scores at M6

In GC patients with recurrence<3 years, HADS-A score (p = 0.013) declined while QLQ-C30 global health status score (p = 0.017) ascended in RTC group contrasted to UC group. Additionally, in GC patients with recurrence of 3–5 years, there was no discrepancy of HADS scores and QLQ-C30 scores between groups (all p > 0.05). In GC patients with recurrence≥5 years, HADS-A score (p = 0.032) and HADS-D score (p = 0.009) both declined in RTC group contrasted to UC group.

As far as distance metastases at recurrence is concerned, in GC patients without distance metastases at recurrence, only HADS-A score reduced in RTC group contrasted to UC group (p = 0.009). In GC patients with distance metastases at recurrence, QLQ-C30 function score ascended (p = 0.013) in RTC group contrasted to UC group.

Additionally, in GC patients without radiotherapy, HADS-A score (p = 0.001) declined, while QLQ-C30 global health status score (p = 0.026) and QLQ-C30 function score (p = 0.014) increased in RTC group contrasted to UC group. Moreover, in GC patients with radiotherapy, there was no discrepancy of HADS-scores or QLQ-C30 scores between groups (all p > 0.05).

In GC patients without targeted drug therapy, HADS-A score (p = 0.034) descended in RTC group contrasted to UC group. In those with targeted drug therapy, HADS-A score (p = 0.041) and HADS-D score (p = 0.041) both declined, whereas QLQ-C30 global health status score (p = 0.006) and QLQ-C30 function score (p = 0.012) elevated in RTC group contrasted to UC group.

Furthermore, in GC patients without ICI treatment, HADS-A score (p = 0.024) descended but QLQ-C30 global health status score (p = 0.007) elevated in RTC group contrasted to UC group. However, in GC patients with ICI treatment, there was no difference in HADS-scores or QLQ-C30 scores between groups (all p > 0.05) (Table 2).

Table 2

ItemsAssessment at M6UC groupRTC groupp value
Time to recurrence
<3 yearsHADS-A score8.3 ± 2.85.1 ± 2.30.013
HADS-D score6.6 ± 3.44.9 ± 1.60.170
QLQ-C30 global health status score65.1 ± 18.583.4 ± 11.10.017
QLQ-C30 function score65.0 ± 17.077.1 ± 13.00.096
QLQ-C30 symptoms score25.8 ± 16.022.3 ± 13.20.608
3–5 yearsHADS-A score6.2 ± 1.96.2 ± 2.20.988
HADS-D score5.3 ± 2.05.2 ± 2.50.983
QLQ-C30 global health status score74.2 ± 11.475.7 ± 20.30.821
QLQ-C30 function score73.5 ± 10.375.1 ± 15.10.765
QLQ-C30 symptoms score26.1 ± 12.727.2 ± 14.90.839
≥5 yearsHADS-A score7.4 ± 2.75.1 ± 1.90.032
HADS-D score7.4 ± 1.44.7 ± 2.60.009
QLQ-C30 global health status score64.6 ± 20.077.9 ± 16.00.102
QLQ-C30 function score64.6 ± 17.777.6 ± 16.00.084
QLQ-C30 symptoms score37.0 ± 17.824.2 ± 15.90.089
Distance metastases at recurrence
NoHADS-A score7.2 ± 2.45.4 ± 1.90.009
HADS-D score5.8 ± 2.04.6 ± 2.20.074
QLQ-C30 global health status score71.6 ± 16.179.8 ± 16.70.108
QLQ-C30 function score72.2 ± 14.277.6 ± 16.00.248
QLQ-C30 symptoms score27.6 ± 14.823.2 ± 15.60.353
YesHADS-A score7.3 ± 2.95.8 ± 2.50.185
HADS-D score7.5 ± 3.05.6 ± 2.40.099
QLQ-C30 global health status score61.9 ± 17.376.4 ± 16.90.050
QLQ-C30 function score59.9 ± 14.874.6 ± 11.70.013
QLQ-C30 symptoms score33.2 ± 18.027.8 ± 12.40.408
Radiotherapy
NoHADS-A score7.7 ± 2.55.1 ± 2.10.001
HADS-D score6.4 ± 2.05.1 ± 2.40.073
QLQ-C30 global health status score67.5 ± 15.879.2 ± 16.90.026
QLQ-C30 function score66.5 ± 13.177.6 ± 15.00.014
QLQ-C30 symptoms score27.5 ± 12.023.8 ± 14.50.383
YesHADS-A score6.8 ± 2.76.6 ± 1.90.915
HADS-D score6.4 ± 3.14.6 ± 2.00.127
QLQ-C30 global health status score68.9 ± 18.976.9 ± 16.60.308
QLQ-C30 function score69.5 ± 18.273.1 ± 13.00.612
QLQ-C30 symptoms score32.1 ± 10.127.7 ± 14.90.507
Targeted drug therapy
NoHADS-A score7.8 ± 2.05.6 ± 2.50.034
HADS-D score6.5 ± 2.05.4 ± 2.30.244
QLQ-C30 global health status score75.8 ± 14.277.5 ± 18.70.823
QLQ-C30 function score71.1 ± 15.673.1 ± 13.70.759
QLQ-C30 symptoms score28.0 ± 15.424.0 ± 13.60.523
YesHADS-A score7.0 ± 2.85.5 ± 2.00.041
HADS-D score6.3 ± 2.74.8 ± 2.30.041
QLQ-C30 global health status score65.0 ± 17.379.1 ± 15.90.006
QLQ-C30 function score66.5 ± 15.478.2 ± 14.80.012
QLQ-C30 symptoms score30.2 ± 16.525.3 ± 15.20.307
ICI treatment
NoHADS-A score7.0 ± 2.65.5 ± 1.90.024
HADS-D score6.0 ± 2.34.9 ± 2.30.092
QLQ-C30 global health status score69.5 ± 16.281.5 ± 14.90.007
QLQ-C30 function score71.0 ± 13.678.0 ± 14.60.077
QLQ-C30 symptoms score28.3 ± 15.822.3 ± 14.70.160
YesHADS-A score8.1 ± 2.25.7 ± 2.90.100
HADS-D score7.8 ± 2.85.3 ± 2.50.118
QLQ-C30 global health status score63.8 ± 19.865.3 ± 18.60.882
QLQ-C30 function score57.6 ± 17.369.7 ± 12.60.176
QLQ-C30 symptoms score33.6 ± 17.036.5 ± 4.80.697

Subgroup analysis of HADS-A, HADS-D, and QLQ-C30 scores at M6 between UC group and RTC group.

UC, usual care program; RTC, reminiscence therapy-based care program; ICI, immune check-point inhibitor; HADS-A, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-anxiety; HADS-D, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-depression; QLQ-C30, Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30; SD, standard deviation. All data are presented as mean ± SD.

3.6. Subgroup analysis of HADS scores and QLQ-C30 scores in patients with/without baseline anxiety/depression

In GC patients without anxiety at M0, HADS-A score reduced at M6 (p = 0.018) in RTC group compared to UC group, however, there was no discrepancy of HADS-D score or QLQ-C30 scores between groups (all p > 0.05). Moreover, in GC patients with anxiety at M0, HADS-A score decreased at M2 (p = 0.041) and M4 (p = 0.026), QLQ-C30 global health status score ascended at M2 (p = 0.025), moreover, QLQ-C30 function score increased at M4 (p = 0.021) and M6 (p = 0.032), while QLQ-C30 symptoms score declined at M2 (p = 0.036) in RTC group compared with UC group.

In GC patients without depression at M0, only HADS-A score reduced at M6 (p = 0.014) in RTC group contrasted to UC group. Furthermore, in GC patients with depression at M0, HADS-D score descended at M1 (p = 0.015) and M6 (p = 0.001); notably, QLQ-C30 global health status score and QLQ-C30 function score ascended while QLQ-C30 symptoms score declined at M1, M2, M4, and M6 in RTC group compared with UC group (all p < 0.05) (Table 3).

Table 3

AssessmentTimeUC groupRTC groupp value
Without anxiety at M0
HADS-A scoreM05.6 ± 1.25.7 ± 1.40.786
M16.2 ± 3.16.0 ± 1.60.826
M25.8 ± 1.86.0 ± 1.90.707
M45.9 ± 2.15.8 ± 2.00.838
M66.8 ± 1.65.1 ± 1.70.018
HADS-D scoreM06.2 ± 2.66.5 ± 2.40.612
M16.1 ± 2.26.2 ± 2.50.927
M25.2 ± 2.05.6 ± 1.20.519
M45.6 ± 2.75.4 ± 2.50.844
M65.8 ± 2.14.5 ± 2.60.190
QLQ-C30 global health status scoreM062.4 ± 19.861.4 ± 14.30.849
M164.8 ± 15.067.7 ± 15.40.537
M268.9 ± 13.270.7 ± 14.70.683
M469.6 ± 15.275.0 ± 15.80.341
M668.9 ± 16.879.1 ± 15.30.118
QLQ-C30 function scoreM057.4 ± 18.256.1 ± 18.10.817
M161.7 ± 16.260.8 ± 18.60.873
M264.6 ± 13.969.0 ± 16.20.370
M468.0 ± 13.273.3 ± 16.10.323
M668.0 ± 14.974.1 ± 14.80.320
QLQ-C30 symptoms scoreM038.6 ± 18.441.3 ± 16.10.607
M135.7 ± 18.336.6 ± 14.30.850
M232.8 ± 16.929.8 ± 15.80.565
M431.9 ± 15.727.6 ± 14.70.432
M625.5 ± 13.325.9 ± 14.80.935
With anxiety at M0
HADS-A scoreM010.9 ± 2.610.6 ± 2.60.711
M19.0 ± 2.68.3 ± 2.60.332
M28.4 ± 3.06.7 ± 2.40.041
M48.0 ± 2.66.4 ± 2.00.026
M67.4 ± 2.95.8 ± 2.40.056
HADS-D scoreM08.6 ± 2.78.4 ± 2.80.804
M18.1 ± 3.07.2 ± 2.20.249
M27.7 ± 2.86.5 ± 2.60.151
M47.0 ± 2.85.8 ± 2.40.174
M66.7 ± 2.65.3 ± 2.00.076
QLQ-C30 global health status scoreM058.0 ± 15.662.1 ± 15.80.358
M160.7 ± 16.469.8 ± 16.60.055
M264.4 ± 13.473.7 ± 13.80.025
M466.7 ± 16.676.8 ± 18.60.067
M667.8 ± 17.878.2 ± 17.90.068
QLQ-C30 function scoreM053.8 ± 17.658.3 ± 15.40.325
M156.5 ± 18.363.8 ± 18.10.153
M264.5 ± 13.371.5 ± 17.30.123
M464.8 ± 13.875.7 ± 16.10.021
M667.8 ± 15.978.3 ± 14.30.032
QLQ-C30 symptoms scoreM044.9 ± 19.241.0 ± 15.80.447
M144.4 ± 20.437.5 ± 15.20.176
M238.4 ± 19.427.4 ± 14.20.036
M436.5 ± 18.826.1 ± 14.20.052
M631.5 ± 17.024.1 ± 14.60.144
Without depression at M0
HADS-A scoreM07.3 ± 2.76.9 ± 2.60.564
M17.0 ± 3.36.6 ± 2.40.627
M26.4 ± 2.55.9 ± 2.20.462
M46.7 ± 2.25.7 ± 2.20.143
M67.1 ± 2.35.3 ± 2.10.014
HADS-D scoreM05.5 ± 1.65.6 ± 1.50.929
M15.5 ± 1.56.1 ± 2.20.240
M25.3 ± 2.45.5 ± 2.10.751
M45.5 ± 2.35.6 ± 2.50.925
M64.9 ± 1.75.2 ± 2.30.694
QLQ-C30 global health status scoreM062.4 ± 18.262.7 ± 15.50.935
M166.8 ± 14.968.6 ± 16.00.681
M270.8 ± 12.272.0 ± 14.30.737
M472.9 ± 15.176.6 ± 16.50.455
M675.9 ± 15.078.4 ± 15.30.619
QLQ-C30 function scoreM061.0 ± 17.057.4 ± 17.60.454
M164.4 ± 15.661.2 ± 18.10.509
M269.2 ± 14.168.7 ± 16.90.912
M470.8 ± 13.473.0 ± 16.00.645
M674.8 ± 15.676.0 ± 14.00.821
QLQ-C30 symptoms scoreM035.7 ± 18.440.9 ± 16.50.290
M133.5 ± 18.637.3 ± 14.60.416
M229.9 ± 17.129.3 ± 16.00.910
M428.2 ± 15.427.8 ± 15.20.935
M622.9 ± 12.826.7 ± 15.20.433
With depression at M0
HADS-A scoreM010.4 ± 3.49.7 ± 3.30.530
M18.9 ± 2.67.9 ± 2.30.184
M28.5 ± 3.06.9 ± 2.10.067
M47.9 ± 2.96.6 ± 1.50.134
M67.4 ± 2.95.9 ± 2.20.123
HADS-D scoreM010.0 ± 2.29.7 ± 2.10.676
M19.4 ± 2.67.4 ± 2.50.015
M28.3 ± 2.46.7 ± 2.70.054
M47.5 ± 2.95.7 ± 2.50.063
M67.8 ± 2.34.6 ± 2.30.001
QLQ-C30 global health status scoreM056.9 ± 16.360.6 ± 14.40.432
M157.2 ± 15.768.9 ± 16.10.019
M260.9 ± 13.072.3 ± 14.40.013
M462.1 ± 15.475.1 ± 18.40.032
M660.4 ± 15.678.7 ± 18.70.006
QLQ-C30 function scoreM048.5 ± 16.457.0 ± 15.80.086
M151.9 ± 17.563.6 ± 18.80.038
M259.0 ± 10.372.2 ± 16.50.005
M460.6 ± 11.676.6 ± 15.90.002
M660.9 ± 11.877.2 ± 15.60.002
QLQ-C30 symptoms scoreM050.0 ± 16.841.6 ± 15.30.088
M149.3 ± 18.136.7 ± 13.80.015
M243.6 ± 17.627.7 ± 13.70.003
M442.1 ± 17.525.4 ± 13.30.004
M636.1 ± 16.422.4 ± 13.70.019

Subgroup analysis of HADS-A, HADS-D, and QLQ-C30 scores at each assessment time point between UC group and RTC group.

UC, usual care program; RTC, reminiscence therapy-based care program; HADS-A, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-anxiety; HADS-D, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-depression; QLQ-C30, Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30; SD, standard deviation. All data are presented as mean ± SD.

4. Discussion

Recurrent GC patients face the dual pressure including physical pain and economic burden, who usually have high incidence rates of anxiety and depression (Zhang, 2021). Therefore, it is curial to find effective managements to relieve anxiety and depression of recurrent GC patients. It is reported that RT alleviates the mental health of some cancer patients (Chen et al., 2022; Liu et al., 2022). For example, one previous study shows that compared with UC, RT involved care program relieve anxiety and depression in postoperative patients with cervical cancer (Liu et al., 2022). Moreover, another study also indicates that care program containing RT is a potential care program to improve mental health in older papillary thyroid carcinoma patients (Chen et al., 2022). However, the influence of RT in recurrent GC patients has been unreported. Our study revealed that RTC reduced HADS scores and anxiety severity in recurrent GC patients compared with UC. This might be because: (1) RTC reviewed past experiences and feelings to arouse the sense of happiness of patients, and established their confidences in resisting diseases, thus relieved their anxiety and depression (Syed Elias et al., 2015; Zhang et al., 2017) and (2) RTC enhanced the patients’ desire to communicate through listening and sharing, alleviating their loneliness and other negative emotions, thus relieved their anxiety and depression (Huang et al., 2022). In addition, anxiety rate showed a decreasing trend at M6 in RTC group compared with UC group, although it did not reach statistical significance. This might because the sample size in this study was small, meanwhile, the statistical effect of the Chi-square test to compare variables between groups was low, resulting in no difference between groups.

The quality of life is as important as the mental health in cancer patients. Due to long-term treatment and loss of physical function, recurrent GC patients generally have poor qualities of life (Kim et al., 2019; Lewandowska et al., 2020). According to previous studies, RT also effectively improves the patients’ quality of life. For example, compared to UC, RT involved care program enhanced quality of life in postoperative patients with cervical cancer (Liu et al., 2022). This was similar to our research, which revealed that RTC improved the quality of life in recurrent GC patients. Possible explanations were as follows: (1) As mentioned above, RTC alleviated anxiety and depression, which might directly relieve the psychological burden of recurrent GC patients, making them face life positively, and thus improving their quality of life (Huang et al., 2022) and (2) RTC strengthened the communications among patients, making them to encourage each other and treat actively, and thus enhanced their quality of life (Li et al., 2022).

Additionally, the subgroup analysis found that RTC was more effective in recurrent GC patients with anxiety or depression at M0. The possible reasons were as follows: (1) Compared with patients without anxiety or depression at M0, recurrent GC patients with anxiety or depression at M0 had increased emotional variability and reduced emotional clarity; therefore, their emotional fluctuations were more intense, and their cognition of emotions were vaguer (Thompson et al., 2017). When treated with RTC, these patients were more likely to be touched by past experience and improve their cognition of emotion through communications, directly regulate emotional response, so as to achieve better treatment effect (Zhang et al., 2017) and (2) RTC could vent patients’ negative emotions by sharing warm memories. Recurrent GC patients with anxiety or depression at M0 were more likely to be moved by these memories and vent negative emotions in time, so the treatment efficacy of RTC in these patients was better (Lazar et al., 2014; Chen et al., 2021). Furthermore, our study also revealed that RTC was more effective in patients without radiotherapy or ICI treatment and patients with targeted drug therapy. However, these findings needed further exploration.

It is worth noting that previous studies have shown that the effect of RTC on alleviating depressive symptoms is persistent (Chiang et al., 2010; Viguer et al., 2017). This was partly similar to our study, which revealed that RTC intervention presented a sustained effect on relieving anxiety and depression, as well as improving the quality of life in recurrent GC patients. This might be because: (1) RTC helped patients increase positive emotions and made them willing to rely on their own abilities to face disease, gradually reducing dependence and adapting to life, increasing social contact, and potentially receiving sustained benefits (Liu et al., 2021; Zhao, 2021) and (2) RTC helped patients develop good habits during the intervention period, making them accustomed to recalling and sharing good memories, thus resulting in sustained benefits (Liu et al., 2021; Cammisuli et al., 2022).

The current study existed some limitations: (1) Our study had a small sample size, and further study should include more recurrent GC patients to verify the outcome of RTC on anxiety, depression, and quality of life, (2) The intervention period was relatively short, and a longer-term intervention was required to appraise the effect of long-term RTC on anxiety, depression, and quality of life in recurrent GC patients, and (3) Our study only evaluated anxiety and depression by HADS, and future studies should use multiple assessment scales for investigation.

In summary, RTC is an effective intervention that relieves anxiety and depression, and enhances quality of life in recurrent GC patients. In clinical practice, RTC can be used as a non-drug intervention to alleviate mental health and improve quality of life in recurrent GC patients. However, future studies with a larger sample size, a longer-term intervention, and multiple assessment scales are required to further confirm the effect of RTC in recurrent GC patients.

Publisher’s note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Statements

Data availability statement

The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/supplementary material, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.

Ethics statement

The studies involving human participants were reviewed and approved by Institution Review Board of HanDan Central Hospital. The patients/participants provided their written informed consent to participate in this study.

Author contributions

WZ contributed to the conception and the design of the study. XW was responsible for the acquisition, analysis and interpretation of the data. XW and WZ contributed to manuscript drafting or critical revisions of the intellectual content. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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Summary

Keywords

recurrent gastric cancer, reminiscence therapy-based care program, anxiety, depression, quality of life

Citation

Wu X and Zhang W (2023) Reminiscence therapy-based care program alleviates anxiety and depression, as well as improves the quality of life in recurrent gastric cancer patients. Front. Psychol. 14:1133470. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1133470

Received

29 December 2022

Accepted

12 May 2023

Published

07 June 2023

Volume

14 - 2023

Edited by

Francisco Sampaio, Escola Superior de Enfermagem do Porto, Portugal

Reviewed by

Soraia Meneses Alarcão, Laboratório de Sistemas Informáticos de Grande Escala (LaSIGE), Portugal; Hsin-Yen Yen, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan

Updates

Copyright

*Correspondence: Weiwei Zhang,

Disclaimer

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

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