Trouble Sleeping Leads To Increased Ratings Of Pain In Cancer Patients, Study
Suggests

(Apr. 19, 2009) — A new study suggests that sleep problems lead to increased
pain and fatigue in cancer patients. The results indicate that interventions
aimed at trouble sleeping would be expected to improve both pain and fatigue in
this patient population.

Results show that more than half the sample reported having trouble sleeping,
with 26 percent reporting moderate or severe trouble sleeping. Compared with
patients who reported no trouble sleeping, patients with moderate to severe
trouble sleeping reported significantly more fatigue, pain and depressed mood.
Using structural equation modeling analysis to evaluate causal relations and
directions of effect, the best-fitting model indicates that trouble sleeping led
to increased ratings of pain.

"We believed we would find a bi-directional relationship between insomnia and
pain, but instead found that trouble sleeping was more likely a cause, rather
than a consequence, of pain in patients with cancer," said lead author Edward J.
Stepanski, chief operational officer at the Accelerated Community Oncology
Research Network in Memphis, Tenn.

The study included demographic, clinical and patient-reported outcomes data from
11,445 cancer patients undergoing treatment at the West Clinic, a large
community oncology practice in Memphis. Participants had an average age of 61.5
years, and 74 percent were female. Breast cancer was the most common form of
cancer, and about 25 percent of study subjects had received chemotherapy in the
last 30 days. Increases in depressed mood also led to increased ratings of pain.

Younger age and recent administration of chemotherapy were both associated with
increased trouble sleeping. According to the authors, younger patients often
receive more aggressive chemotherapy than older patients; therefore, younger
patients may be exposed to more treatment-related toxicity.

Stepanski stated that studies have shown that cognitive behavioral therapy
(CBT) improves sleep in cancer patients who have insomnia. He believes that this
type of intervention may decrease patients' pain and fatigue by improving their
sleep.

Here is again an indication for the modality of hypnosis as far as I am
concerned. We hypnotist have so many areas where we can help this patient
population, whether with pain, emotional issues, time distortion during chemo or
radiation, nausea, pain, images of healing and future freedom from disease and
yes ...sleeping.



Journal reference:

. The Relation of Trouble Sleeping, Depressed Mood, Pain, and Fatigue in
Patients with Cancer. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, April 15, 2009
Seth-Deborah Roth CRNA,CCHt,CI
www.hypnotherapyforhealth.com
read my blog at www.hypnotichealth.blogspot.com
as seen on the "MythBusters"

www.iLearningGlobal.biz/selfgrowth
www.sethdeborahroth.isagenix.com