Prevalence of depression and anxiety disorder in cancer patients: An institutional experience

A Shankar, C Dracham, S Ghoshal, S Grover

Indian Journal of Cancer 2016 53(3):432-434

AIM: This study aimed to screen the patients with various malignancies for the presence of depressive disorders and anxiety disorder using standardized rating scales. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five hundred and thirty-four (n = 534) patients attending the radiotherapy outpatient services completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) Questionnaire. RESULTS: About half (n = 248; 46.4%) of the patients had psychiatric morbidity either in the form of depressive disorder or in the form of GAD. Higher stage of malignancy (from early, advanced to metastasis) was associated with higher prevalence of depressive disorder and GAD. The presence of psychiatric morbidity, especially anxiety disorder, was associated with being from low socioeconomic status. CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that psychiatric morbidity in the form of depressive and anxiety disorders is very common among patients with malignancies. Accordingly, there is a need for close liaison between oncologists and mental health professionals to improve the outcome of patients with various malignancies.

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