The impact of diagnosis and trait anxiety on psychological distress in women with early stage breast cancer: A prospective study

Abstract

What is already known on this subject? Women diagnosed with BC or BBD experience high levels of anxiety and distress during the diagnostic process. These adverse psychological effects are strengthened by the personality characteristic trait anxiety. Before implementing screening for psychological counselling in women with high trait anixety, it is important to evaluate whether high state anxiety and depressive symptoms are determined by (the threat of) having BC or solely by HTA. What does this study add? To our knowledge, this is the first study comparing women who are confronted with the possibility of having a life-threatening disease, that is, BC, with women who were not suspected of having a life-threatening disease, that is, GD. This study reveals that the severity of diagnosis (BC) in combination with HTA determined the level of state anxiety and depressive symptoms. Therefore, we recommend identifying women with HTA and offering them a tailor-made follow-up protocol during and after the diagnostic process for BC or BBD.

Psychological adjustment after breast cancer: a systematic review of longitudinal studies

“…Symptoms of anxiety were predictive of worse later quality of life and depression . Symptoms of depression were predictive of worse quality of life and more anxiety .…”

“…Symptoms of anxiety were predictive of worse later quality of life 25,34 and depression. 44 Symptoms of depression were predictive of worse quality of life 30,34 and more anxiety. 44 On the contrary, psychological well-being at diagnosis predicted better quality of life 33 and fewer depressive symptoms at follow-up.…”

“…44 Symptoms of depression were predictive of worse quality of life 30,34 and more anxiety. 44 On the contrary, psychological well-being at diagnosis predicted better quality of life 33 and fewer depressive symptoms at follow-up. 26 Seventeen studies (41%) provided evidence that initial levels of the main psychological outcome influenced the outcome at followup.…”

Anxiety symptoms prior to a prostate cancer diagnosis: Associations with knowledge and openness to treatment

“…Another limitation related to the correlational design is that unmeasured variables could have played a role in our findings. For example, we did not measure trait anxiety which can relate to anxiety about cancer and information processing (Bar‐Haim, Lamy, Pergamin, Bakermans‐Kranenburg, & van IJzendoorn, ; Keyzer‐Dekker et al ., ).…”

“…Our finding that anxiety increased as individuals came closer to receiving feedback about a cancer diagnosis replicates one study in the area of prostate cancer (e.g., Zisman et al ., ) and several in the area of breast cancer (e.g., Benedict, Williams, & Baron, ; Keyzer‐Dekker, de Vries, Mertens, Roukema, & van der Steeg, ; Lang, Berbaum, & Lutgendorf, ; Lang et al ., ; Liao et al ., ). Some researchers have recommended shortening the anticipation period between biopsy and result disclosure.…”