Depression and anxiety in women with breast cancer in Erbil city: a case-control study

Background and objectives: Breast cancer has specific challenges for women. This study was carried out to identify the frequency of depression and anxiety in women with breast cancer.. Methods: A hospital based case-control study was carried out in Erbil city from August, 15 th to November, 1 st 2010. The convenient sample included 100 cases of diagnosed breast cancer for the last three years attending Maternity and Nanakali hospitals and two hundred age-matched (± 5 years) non-cancer women attending the Maternity hospital for gynaecological conditions were taken as a control group. Results: The mean ± SD ages of cases and controls were 45.51 ± 8.87.4 and 44.57 ± 8.59 years, respectively (P=0.378). The proportion of depression among cases (69%) was higher than that among controls (17.5%) (P<0.001), and the proportion of anxiety among cases (56%) was higher than that among controls (16%) (P<0.001). Multiple logistic regression analysis of risk factors for depression revealed that breast cancer (OR=10.531), owned home (OR=0.463), and years of formal education (OR=0.917) have a statistically significant association with depression. While breast cancer (OR=8.735) and parity (OR=1.167) have a statistically significant association with anxiety and borderline anxiety. Conclusion: Increased levels of depression and anxiety after a diagnosis of breast cancer highlight the need for dedicated psychiatric service provision.