ORCID Profile
0000-0002-6557-211X
Current Organisations
Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica
,
University of California, San Diego
,
National Taiwan University
,
National Taiwan University Hospital
,
Harvard University Health Services
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Publications
A longitudinal study of cortisol responses, sleep problems, and psychological well-being as the predictors of changes in depressive symptoms among breast cancer survivors
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2013
DOI: 10.1016/J.PSYNEUEN.2012.06.010
Abstract: This study examined whether the changes in sleep problems, attachment styles, meaning in life, and salivary cortisol over the course of 14 months were the predictors of changes in depressive symptoms in women with breast cancer at post-treatment stage. The study included 76 participants who completed active breast cancer treatment with longitudinal data collected at five points, including baseline assessment (T0) and the four follow-ups after baseline: T1 (in the 2nd month), T2 (in the 5th month), T3 (in the 8th month), and T4 (in the 14th month). The self-reported questionnaires included the Medical Outcomes Study Sleep (MOS-Sleep) scale the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R) scale for measuring anxiety and avoidance dimensions of attachment style and the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ), consisting of the MLQ-Presence scale and the MLQ-Search scale. The participants collected their salivary cortisol at home at six time points: upon waking, 30 and 45 min after waking, and at 1200 h, 1700 h, and 2100 h. Higher scores on for anxiety-related attachment style and the sleep problems index at baseline were associated with more severe initial depressive symptoms after the age, BMI, cancer, and treatment variables were controlled. The presence of meaning in life at baseline was negatively correlated with initial depressive symptoms. Moreover, the decreases in the presence of meaning in life over the course of 14 months predicted more severe depressive symptoms. In addition, the persistent increases of cortisol level at 2100 h across 14-month follow-ups predicted worsening depressive symptoms. Lacking presence of meaning in life as a predictor for severe depressive symptoms demonstrates that breast cancer survivors who lack psychological well-being are more likely to be depressed. The persistent elevation of cortisol levels at night also indicates breast cancer survivors to be at high risk of depression.
The Long-Term Effects of Mindfulness Added to Family Resilience-Oriented Couples Support Group on Psychological Well-Being and Cortisol Responses in Breast Cancer Survivors and Their Partners
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 16-07-2016
A network analysis to identify mediators of germline-driven differences in breast cancer prognosis
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 16-01-2020
DOI: 10.1038/S41467-019-14100-6
Abstract: Identifying the underlying genetic drivers of the heritability of breast cancer prognosis remains elusive. We adapt a network-based approach to handle underpowered complex datasets to provide new insights into the potential function of germline variants in breast cancer prognosis. This network-based analysis studies ~7.3 million variants in 84,457 breast cancer patients in relation to breast cancer survival and confirms the results on 12,381 independent patients. Aggregating the prognostic effects of genetic variants across multiple genes, we identify four gene modules associated with survival in estrogen receptor (ER)-negative and one in ER-positive disease. The modules show biological enrichment for cancer-related processes such as G-alpha signaling, circadian clock, angiogenesis, and Rho-GTPases in apoptosis.
The partner’s insecure attachment, depression and psychological well-being as predictors of diurnal cortisol patterns for breast cancer survivors and their spouses
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 29-01-2014
DOI: 10.3109/10253890.2014.880833
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to explore whether stress from in idual's and partner's depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, insecure attachment and meaning in life were predictors of diurnal cortisol patterns in breast cancer survivors and their spouses. Thirty-four couple dyads participated in this eight-month follow-up study. The breast cancer survivors and their spouses completed the Medical Outcomes Study Sleep scale, the Beck Depression Inventory-II, the State Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised scale and the Meaning in Life Questionnaire, and they collected salivary cortisol at home at the time of awakening, 30 and 45 min after waking and at 1200 h, 1700 h and 2100 h. Diurnal cortisol slopes of survivors and spouses are positively correlated. But the factors associated with diurnal cortisol patterns are different between survivors and spouses. For survivors, neither survivor in iduals' nor spouses' psychosocial factors were the predictors of survivors' diurnal cortisol patterns. For spouses, the survivors' higher anxious attachment style was the main predictor of spouses' flatter diurnal cortisol patterns. In conclusion, for spouses, psychophysiological stress responses are mainly influenced by breast cancer survivors' insecure attachment. Future couple supportive care interventions can address survivors' attachment styles in close relationships in order to improve neuroendocrine functions for both breast cancer survivors and their spouses.
Low penetrance breast cancer susceptibility loci are associated with specific breast tumor subtypes: findings from the Breast Cancer Association Consortium
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 19-05-2011
DOI: 10.1093/HMG/DDR228
The changes of quality of life and their correlations with psychosocial factors following surgery among women with breast cancer from the post-surgery to post-treatment survivorship
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.BREAST.2018.12.011
Abstract: This 14-month study aimed to examine the changes of quality of life following breast cancer surgery and associations of such changes with depression and anxiety levels, and protective factors (attachment styles in close relationship, and meaning in life) based on positive psychology theory. Women with breast cancer were recruited within one week of completion of breast cancer surgery. They were asked to complete several questionnaires to measure the generic and breast cancer specific quality of life, depression and anxiety levels, attachment styles in close relationship, and meaning in life. Assessments were performed at baseline (T0), T1 (the 2nd month), T2 (the 5th month), T3 (the 8th month), and T4 (the 14th month). While the generic functions of quality of life improve after surgery, no significant changes of the breast-specific functions were found during the 14-month follow up period. While physical, role, and social functions improved immediately after surgery, the improvements of emotional and cognitive functions began to occur at the 5th and the 8th months after surgery. Depressive symptoms predicted almost all general and breast-specific QOL functions and symptoms. Avoidant and anxious attachment styles were associated with the negative scores for breast-specific functions and symptoms. Breast-specific functions, in particular body image and sexual function, remain unchanged with the passage of time following surgery. A psychological rehabilitation program aiming to reduce depressive symptoms and enhance secure attachment styles in close relationships needs to be established immediately following surgery and continue through the post-treatment survivorship stages.
A longitudinal study of diurnal cortisol patterns and associated factors in breast cancer patients from the transition stage of the end of active cancer treatment to post-treatment survivorship
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2017
DOI: 10.1016/J.BREAST.2017.06.016
Abstract: The aim of this study was to examine the changes in diurnal cortisol patterns and its associated factors among breast cancer patients over a 14-month follow up period. A total of 85 breast cancer patients were recruited to participate in this study. Assessments were performed at baseline (T0), T1 (the 2nd month), T2 (the 5th month), T3 (the 8th month), and T4 (the 14th month). Salivary cortisol was measured and the following questionnaires were administered: BDI-II depression scale, European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and its breast cancer-specific complementary measure (EORTC QLQ-BR23). Patients were grouped into flat and steep groups, according to the median of the diurnal cortisol slopes at the time of the transition period. Breast cancer patients in the flatter slope group at transition period demonstrated steeper slopes over the course of recovery from treatment and those in the steeper slope group at transition period continued with steeper slopes over the course of recovery. The greater breast cancer-related symptoms (side-effects, symptoms relating to breast and arm, and hair loss) were associated with the changes in flatter diurnal cortisol slopes during14-month follow up period. Diurnal cortisol patterns in flatter slope group at the transition period appear to have a trend of recovery with the passage of time over the course of recovery from treatment. Management of breast cancer symptoms could improve dysregulation of diurnal cortisol patterns among survivors.
Habitual sleep–wake behaviors and lifestyle as predictors of diurnal cortisol patterns in young breast cancer survivors: A longitudinal study
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2015
DOI: 10.1016/J.PSYNEUEN.2014.12.014
Abstract: This study aimed to identify predictors of changes in diurnal cortisol patterns during the 8-month follow up period for young breast cancer survivors. Among the potential predictors were tumor size, lymph node metastasis, changes in sleep problems, habitual time of awakening and bedtime, physical activity levels, body mass index (BMI), and depressive levels across 8 months. The participants were 62 breast cancer women who were aged 40 years and below, and had completed active breast cancer treatment. The longitudinal data were collected at four points: baseline assessment (T0) and three follow-ups after baseline: T1 (in the 2nd month), T2 (in the 5th month), and T3 (in the 8th month). The participants collected their salivary cortisol at home at six time points: upon waking, 30 and 45min after waking, and at 1200h, 1700h, and 2100h. They also completed several questionnaires: the Medical Outcomes Study Sleep scale the Beck Depression Inventory-II, physical activity levels on a 10-point scale, time of going to bed, time of awakening, and total sleep hours. This study found that the main predictors of changes toward flatter diurnal cortisol patterns during the 8-month follow ups were greater tumor sizes, increases of BMI scores, and habitually later times of awakening. While greater tumor sizes represent biological vulnerability of disruption of cortisol circadian rhythm, maintaining an appropriate BMI and good sleep habits could be a protective factor for normal cortisol regulation, which likely helps to reduce early mortality in young breast cancer survivors.
Related Organisations
Institute Of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica
Location: Taiwan, Province of China
University Of California, San Diego
Location: United States of America
National Taiwan University Hospital
Location: Taiwan, Province of China
Harvard University Health Services
Location: United States of America
Related Funding Activities
No related grants have been discovered for Chiun-Sheng Huang.