Association of psychological distress with arm morbidity symptoms in breast cancer survivors: outcomes from the use of PHQ-9 and GAD-7 questionnaires

Background Although higher survival rates of breast cancer are achieved these days, breast cancer survivors are challenged with unwanted side effects from treatment or management that affect physical, functional, and psychological well-being of an individual. This study aimed to assess psychological...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Breast cancer (Tokyo, Japan) Japan), 2023-09, Vol.30 (5), p.810-819
Main Authors: Yusof, Khairunnisa’ Md, Mohd Sidik, Sherina, Mahmud, Rozi, Abdullah, Maha, Avery-Kiejda, Kelly A., Rosli, Rozita
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Anxiety
Breast cancer
Cancer Research
Cancer survivors
Health surveys
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Morbidity
Oncology
Original Article
Patient outcomes
Stress (Psychology)
Surgery
Surgical Oncology
Surveys
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Summary:Background Although higher survival rates of breast cancer are achieved these days, breast cancer survivors are challenged with unwanted side effects from treatment or management that affect physical, functional, and psychological well-being of an individual. This study aimed to assess psychological distress status in Malaysian breast cancer survivors and factors that affected the condition. Methods A cross-sectional study design was conducted on 162 breast cancer survivors from various breast cancer support groups in Malaysia. Psychological distress status was assessed based on depression and anxiety scores by applying the Malay version of Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7). Both instruments were self-administered along with a set of questionnaires comprising demographic, medical history, quality of life, and upper extremity function assessment. Outcomes from the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 were analyzed for severity level of psychological distress, and its association with relevant variables, arm morbidity symptoms, as well as the duration of cancer survivorship. Results The univariate analysis showed that breast cancer survivors with arm morbidities after breast surgery had a higher score of depression (5.0 vs 4.0, p  = 0.011) and anxiety (3.0 vs 1.0, p  = 0.026) than those who did not. Besides that, receiving fewer post-rehabilitation treatments ( p  = 0.049) and having a family history of cancer ( p  = 0.022) were correlated with higher anxiety level. The level of depression and anxiety was inversely proportionate with quality of life and positively correlated with greater disability of the arm function ( p  
ISSN:1340-6868
1880-4233
DOI:10.1007/s12282-023-01475-0