Mental Health Assessment of Cancer Patients: Prevalence and Predictive Factors of Depression and Anxiety

Abstract

Background: Patients with oncological diseases often have mental disorders in the form of comorbidity. The aim of this study was to research the association of cancer with the presence of symptoms of depression and anxiety in primary health care patients.
 Methods: This prospective observational study done in 2020 included adult users of health care at the Health Center Trstenik, Central Serbia, aged 19 and over, both sexes, with a diagnosis of oncological disease. A research instrument to assess depressive symptoms is used PHQ-9 (The Patient Health Questionnaire) questionnaire, derived from PRIME MD- and (The Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders), and the Beck Anxiety Scale (BAI) to register the presence of certain anxiety symptoms.
 Results: The largest percentage of patients had symptoms of mild (27.2%) or moderate depression (22%), while 18% reported symptoms of major depression. The level of depression was higher in older subjects, in the presence of chronic diseases with greater limitations of activity and the presence of difficulties in performing daily activities, with a more pronounced effect of pain on activity, the presence of stress. All subjects were characterized as persons with severe anxiety (score 26-63). The level of anxiety was higher in older respondents, in the presence of long-term illness, with greater limitations of activities and difficulties in performing daily activities, with a more pronounced influence of pain on performing activities and the influence of the media.
 Conclusion: Caring for the mental health of cancer patients must occupy a significant part of each country's national health policy.

Screening young adult cancer survivors for depression and anxiety with the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders (PRIME‐MD): Comparisons with a structured clinical diagnostic interview

“…Although the PRIME-MD has strong support in medical populations and is in the public domain, 8,35 we are aware of very few studies reporting on its use with cancer patients. [36][37][38][39][40] Our findings may support renewed interest in the PRIME-MD as a screening measure for depression in YACS and other cancer survivors. However, our results do not support the use of the PRIME-MD as a standalone screen of anxiety disorders in YACS.…”

“…First, our results strongly support the PRIME‐MD as a valid screening tool for depressive disorders in YACS. Although the PRIME‐MD has strong support in medical populations and is in the public domain, 8,35 we are aware of very few studies reporting on its use with cancer patients 36–40 . Our findings may support renewed interest in the PRIME‐MD as a screening measure for depression in YACS and other cancer survivors.…”

Prevalence of Depression and Anxiety Disorders Among Cancer Patients: An Insight From a Single Institute

“…Incorporating mental therapies into a cancer patient's treatment plan can help control psychiatric illnesses, particularly anxiety and despair, and is recommended as a national health policy by some authors [17][18][19].…”

Moderating effect of grip strength in the association between cancer and depressive symptomatology

“…In a study with of inpatients with lung cancer in general hospitals, 43.2% of cancer patienst experienced clinically signi cant depressive symptoms (Gu et al, 2017). Also, when analysing the association between cancer and depression, Vucic et al (Vucic et al, 2021) observed that a large percentage of patients had symptoms of mild (27.2%), moderate depression (22%), and major depression (18%), and the severity of depression was higher in older adults. Our ndings reinforce that persons diagnosed with cancer present more depressive symptoms, mainly older adults.…”