A study of anxiety and depression among patients undergoing radiological investigations in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital

• Published in: Journal of clinical sciences 2018-01, Vol.15 (1), p.41-47
• Main Authors: Ogbolu, Raphael, Omidiji, Olubukola
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adults; anxiety; depression; investigations; radiology
• ISSN: 2468-6859; 2408-7408
• DOI: 10.4103/jcls.jcls_71_17

Background: Patients who come for radiological investigations often have anxiety due to a number of factors - the fear of hospitals, injections, diagnosis, or being in an enclosed space. Such anxiety needs to be allayed to prevent delays, incomplete tests, or cancellations. The study aims to assess the prevalence of anxiety and depression among patients undergoing radiological investigations in a tertiary hospital. Materials and Methods: Two hundred and three literate, consenting adults who presented to the Radiology Department of a Teaching Hospital, from May 2015 to April 2016, were recruited consecutively. Children and adults who could not read/write were excluded from the study. Instruments used were a sociodemographic questionnaire, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) for state anxiety, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS for Windows version 22. Results: The mean HADS score for anxiety was 5.0 + 4.4 (Range 0-12), and for depression, the mean score was 5.2 + 4.3 (Range 0-19). Twenty-nine (14.3%) respondents screened positive for depression, while 27 (13.3%) had suspected borderline depression. Thirty (14.8%) screened positive for anxiety, with 27 (13.3%) being borderline anxiety as well. Anxiety and depression were the most common among those with an unknown diagnosis (4.4% and 6.4%, respectively). The mean STAI score was 46.48 + 7.2 (Range 25-67). Thirty (14.8%) respondents had anxiety, while 27 (13.3%) were borderline. Ninety-three (45.8%) had state anxiety, the most common among those with unknown diagnoses (15.3%). Depression was mostly seen among those undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (6.9%) P < 0.05. Conclusion: State anxiety, probable anxiety disorder, and probable depressive disorder were quite common with a prevalence of 45.8%, 14.8%, and 14.3%, respectively; these should be addressed among participants going for radiological investigations, especially those with an unknown diagnosis. A pretest counseling session is a good recommendation for such participants to allay anxiety.