The Association Between Post-traumatic Stress and Health-Related Quality of Life in Adults Treated for a Benign Meningioma

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between health-related quality of life and brain-tumor related posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in adults who had been treated for a primary benign meningioma (MGM). Utilizing a cross-sectional survey design, 70 adults who had previously been treated with radiotherapy [M=4.4 years] for a benign MGM were administered questionnaires assessing MGM-related PTSS, health-related quality-of-life (QOL), and current mood, as well as a test of executive functioning. Sixteen percent of the sample reported heightened MGM-related PTSS. Elevated PTSS was significantly associated with a substantial reduction in executive functioning, QOL, as well as heightened symptoms of depression, fatigue and confusion. The majority of participants with elevated PTSS reported the need to have professional support due to feeling distressed and having a fear of their tumor progressing or recurring. The findings suggest that one in six patients treated for a benign MGM are at risk of experiencing MGM-related PTSS both in the short- and longer-term, and PTSS may seriously hamper patients QOL irrespective of prognosis. The findings suggest that psychological effects need to be taken into account when treating MGM patients.