Depression and anxiety symptoms following cancer diagnosis: a cross-sectional study

• Published in: Psychology, health & medicine health & medicine, 2016-07, Vol.21 (5), p.562-570
• Main Authors: Cardoso, Graça, Graca, Joao, Klut, Catarina, Trancas, Bruno, Papoila, Ana
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anxiety; Anxiety - epidemiology; Anxiety - psychology; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Breast Neoplasms - psychology; Cancer; Cancer Pain - epidemiology; Cancer Pain - psychology; Chemotherapy; Colorectal Neoplasms - pathology; Colorectal Neoplasms - psychology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Demography; depression; Depression - epidemiology; Depression - psychology; distress; Female; Health risk assessment; Humans; Logistic Models; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Lung Neoplasms - psychology; Male; Medical diagnosis; Mental depression; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Neoplasm Staging; Neoplasms - pathology; Neoplasms - psychology; Pain; Psychological distress; Risk Factors; Sex Factors; Stress, Psychological - psychology; Tumors; Women; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1354-8506; 1465-3966
• DOI: 10.1080/13548506.2015.1125006

Introduction: The aims of the present study were to assess demographic and clinical characteristics of patients after receiving a cancer diagnosis, and to determine possible risk factors for anxiety and depression. Methods: All consecutive patients aged 18 or above, were assessed before starting intravenous chemotherapy for the first time with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Distress Thermometer, and a Visual Analog Scale for pain. Demographic and clinical data were also collected. Results: The patients assessed (n = 270) had a mean age of 59.4 (SD = 11.8) years, and 50.7% were women. Tumours were more frequently colorectal (27.2%), lung (18.8%) and breast (17.6%), and 68.9% were stages 3 or 4. A HADS Anxiety score ≥8 was present in 30% of the patients, a Depression score ≥8 in 24.1%, and a Distress score ≥4 in 44.4%. Independent risk factors for HADS Depression score ≥8 were being a woman (OR = 2.45; p = 0.004), being older (OR = 1.04; p = 0.005), and cancer stage 3-4 (OR = 2.24; p = 0.023) in the multivariable analysis; for Anxiety ≥8 they were being a woman (OR = 2.47; p = 0.002), having a past psychiatric consultation (OR = 2.83; p = 0.029), and cancer stage 3-4 (OR = 1.90; p = 0.047). Conclusion: These results suggest the need for greater awareness and a differentiated approach to patients at increased risk of anxiety and depression in the early stages of treatment and before starting chemotherapy.