Evaluation and characterization of generalized anxiety and depression in patients with primary brain tumors

Abstract

To determine clinical and sociodemographic factors that are associated with major neuropsychiatric illnesses among brain tumor patients, we administered a modified version of the Brief Patient Health Questionnaire and a demographic data form to 363 adult neuro-oncology patients. Responses were analyzed to assess for associations between demographic variables, clinical variables, and symptoms consistent with diagnoses of generalized anxiety disorder and/or depression. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that female gender was associated with the presence of symptoms of anxiety, depression, and combined anxiety and depression. Lower WHO tumor grade classifications, lower education level, and a history of psychiatric illness also emerged as important predictors of symptoms consistent with anxiety and/or depression. Marital status and presence of past/current medical illness trended toward being significantly associated with depression alone. Patient use of psychiatric medication was not associated with any study variables. Results of the present study suggest several hypotheses to test with neuro-oncology patients in further longitudinal analyses, which would benefit from the inclusion of a wider range of neuropsychiatric symptoms in conjunction with neurocognitive and functional impairment variables.

Low triiodothyronine syndrome as a predictor of poor outcomes in patients undergoing brain tumor surgery: a pilot study

“…3,19,28 Despite the well-established association of thyroid function with psychiatric symptoms in patients with psychiatric and somatic conditions, there are no studies evaluating the association of thyroid axis function with depression and anxiety in brain tumor patients. 4,12 The identification of depression and anxiety biomarkers could potentially improve risk stratification and contribute to the improved care and survival of these patients.…”

Management of Depression in Terminally Ill Patients – A Critical Review

“…Nonetheless, cancer exclusive of the site is associated with depression in rates higher compared to normal population. Cancer types in association with depression include brain (41-93%) [5,6], pancreas (up to 50%) [7], head and neck (42%) [8], breast (4.5-38%) [9,10], lung (11%) [11,27], and gynecological (23%) [12]. High prevalence is associated with stomach, pancreas, breast, and head and neck cancers [13] with lower rates associated with colon cancers (13%)and lymphomas (8%) [14].…”

Presencia de sintomatología ansiosa y depresiva en pacientes ambulatorios con patología neurológica

“…Las puntaciones oscilan entre los 10 y los 50 puntos. Los rangos del instrumento presentan cuatro niveles: bajo (10-15), moderado (16-21), alto (22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29) y muy alto (30-50), considerándose las puntuaciones superiores a 21 puntos como punto de corte sugestivo de la presencia de un trastorno de ansiedad y/o depresión de acuerdo a investigaciones previas. 33,34 De acuerdo con la evidencia disponible, este instrumento puede ser apropiado para estimar las necesidades de la población en los servicios de salud mental.…”

“…17 Respecto a los tumores cerebrales se han reportado resultados inconstantes que varían del 25 al 93% para la depresión y de 13 a 30% para la ansiedad. 23 En el caso de la migraña, se reporta un 20% de pacientes con depresión y 50% con ansiedad. 24 Estos resultados no son concluyentes pero nos indican una aproximación sobre la frecuencia con la que estos síntomas se presentan en las enfermedades neurológicas.…”