Prevalence of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder among Omani children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer: a prospective cross-sectional study

• Published in: BMC cancer 2024-04, Vol.24 (1), p.518-518, Article 518
• Main Authors: Al-Saadi, Laila S, Chan, Moon Fai, Al Sabahi, Amal, Alkendi, Jalila, Al-Mashaikhi, Nawal, Sumri, Hana Al, Al-Fahdi, Amal, Al-Azri, Mohammed
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescents; Age; Anxiety; Anxiety - epidemiology; Cancer; Cancer in children; Care and treatment; Child; Children; Children & youth; Complications and side effects; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression; Depression - epidemiology; Depression, Mental; Diagnosis; Epidemiology; Female; Hematology; Humans; Male; Medical diagnosis; Medical records; Mental depression; Neoplasms - epidemiology; Neoplasms - psychology; Oman - epidemiology; Oncology; Pediatrics; Post traumatic stress disorder; Prevalence; Prospective Studies; Psychological aspects; Sociodemographics; Statistical analysis; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - diagnosis; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - epidemiology; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology; Teenagers
• ISSN: 1471-2407; 1471-2407
• DOI: 10.1186/s12885-024-12272-z

Children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer often experience psychological distress, encompassing anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of these conditions among Omani children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer, alongside identifying contributing factors. A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2021 to June 2023 among a cohort of Omani children and adolescents (6-18 years old) diagnosed with cancer at three primary cancer referral centres in Oman. Validated Arabic-language versions of the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children, and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised instruments were used to assess symptoms of anxiety, depression, and PTSD, respectively. An initial assessment (T1) was undertaken within the first 3 months of diagnosis, followed by a second assessment (T2) 3-6 months later. Of 113 eligible participants, 101 agreed to participate in the study (response rate: 95.6%), with 92 (91.0%) completing both assessments and included in the final analysis. Prevalence rates of anxiety, depression, and PTSD decreased from 43.5%, 56.5%, and 32.6%, respectively, at T1, to 38.0%, 35.9%, and 23.9% at T2. All average scores were below diagnostic cut-off points, except for the depression score at T1. Anxiety and depression scores decreased significantly (p = 0.043 and 0.001, respectively) between T1 and T2, as did the overall prevalence of depression (p = 0.004). At T1, linear regression analysis showed significant correlations between anxiety scores and the child's age and PTSD score (p