Psychological Distress Among Adult Patients Being Evaluated for Bone Marrow Transplantation

A sample of 437 patients being evaluated for bone marrow transplantation (BMT) completed interviews and questionnaires to assess their psychosocial adjustment. Nearly a third of the patients (31%) showed some degree of depression on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Scores on the Profile of Mood States Scale also indicated that these BMT candidates were experiencing a high level of psychological distress. This distress was found to be predicted by low scores on the Self-Rated Karnofsky Performance Scale and on scales measuring mastery and dispositional optimism. The value of assessing the levels of psychological distress and psychosocial resources of patients being evaluated for BMT and for providing necessary psychiatric interventions are discussed.