Factors associated with depression symptoms in women after breast cancer

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the factors associated with the presence of depression symptoms in women after breast cancer. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with 181 women with breast cancer, aged 57.0 years (SD = 9.5), who were undergoing treatment or after treatment in the Oncology Research Center in Florianópolis, state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. The questionnaire comprised items addressing general and health information, economic level, anthropometric measures, depression symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory), self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale), and body image (Body Image After Breast Cancer Questionnaire). Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis were performed by chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests to verify association, Mann-Whitney U test to compare the groups and Poisson regression to identify the prevalence ratio of the factors associated with presence of depression symptoms (p < 0.05). RESULTS: We found an association between the presence of depression symptoms and the group of younger women (aged 40–60 years), those who had another disease besides cancer, those who had mastectomy surgery, those who suffered from lymphedema, and those who presented low–medium self-esteem. Less educated women presented more depressive symptoms, as did women with worse body image on the subscales of limitations, transparency, and arm concerns. CONCLUSIONS: Age, educational attainment, diagnosis of other diseases, type of surgery, lymphedema, self-esteem, and body image were factors associated with the presence of depression symptoms in Brazilian women after breast cancer. Health professionals should be aware of these relationships and try to detect depression symptoms earlier and improve the care they provide to these women.

<p>Type C Personality and Depression Among Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer Patients: The Mediating Role of Sense of Coherence</p>

“…Multiple linear regression was established to explain whether SOC could mediate the relationship of type C personality and depression. Some epidemiological investigation reports in China 32,33 and abroad 34,35 showed that age, marital status, type of surgery, degree of education and personal income are related to depression in breast cancer patients. Therefore, a triple multiple linear regression analysis was established in this study.…”

“…Studies [32][33][34][35] have shown that depression was significantly associated with many aspects, such as young women, single or divorced or widowed, mastectomy, low level of education and less incomes. In the present study, spouse status and monthly income were recognized as predictive factors of depression in Model I of the regression equation.…”

Fatores associados à depressão em pacientes oncológicos durante quimioterapia

“…Enfatiza-se variável significante quanto à presença de sintomas de depressão, devido às diferentes abordagens (pacientes diagnosticados (6,14) ou não clinicamente (4,(8)(9)15) ) e instrumentos utilizados, como IDB (3,5,8,(16)(17) , Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale ((7) , Escala de Depressão Geriátrica (9) , Escala Hospitalar de Ansiedade e Depressão (4,(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19) , Self-rating Depression Scale (20) .…”

“…Pesquisa brasileira analisou os fatores relacionados aos sintomas indicativos de depressão em mulheres com câncer de mama e encontrou que idade, escolaridade, diagnóstico de outras doenças, tipo de cirurgia, linfedema, autoestima e imagem corporal foram fatores associados à sintomologia depressiva, mesmo depois da cura da malignidade (8) .…”

“…A carga de depressão pode influenciar a gravidade e o número de eventos adversos do tratamento realizado, aumentando outros sintomas decorrentes da terapia quimioterápica, como náusea e fadiga, comprometendo o desempenho de atividades cotidianas, do papel social, da adesão e continuidade ao tratamento, ocasionando diminuição da qualidade de vida de pacientes (3,(8)(9)(10) .…”