Relationship between uncertainty tolerance and mental health outcomes in life-threatening illness

Summary

Life-threatening illnesses can cause psychological distress alongside their physical effects; this distress may result in profound mood disturbances including depression and anxiety. Lessening the mental health impacts of such illnesses can therefore benefit wellbeing and quality of life.

Uncertainty is a common feature of many life-threatening and life-limiting illnesses and can relate to the disease itself, care delivery, and the future. Many of these uncertainties are not easily resolved and are thus irreducible: they can be distressing experiences and may mediate some of the mental health impacts of life-threatening illnesses.

However, the relationship between uncertainty and mental health outcomes is not well understood in this illness context. This project will use a mixed methods approach to explore the relationship between uncertainty tolerance and mental health outcomes in life-threatening illness.

Project aims

The student will conduct a literature review to identify associations between responses to uncertainty and mental health outcomes in life-threatening illness. They will then collect primary data using surveys and qualitative interviews with patients and informal carers to describe and explore the relationship between uncertainty and mental health in greater depth, identifying factors associated with poor outcomes.

Anticipated outputs are new theoretical and practical understanding of the interface between uncertainty and mental health. The student will identify potential mechanisms for new interventions to support mental health in life-threatening illness.

This project will be hosted by the interdisciplinary Palliative and End of Life Care research group (PELiCam), within the Department of Public Health and Primary Care. PELiCam conducts medical and health services research in serious illness contexts, and the student will be encouraged to contribute to the work of the group as a full member.

Contact details

Dr Simon Etkind - sde23@medschl.cam.ac.uk

Opportunities

This project is open to applicants who want to do a:

• PhD