Open AccessThe Course of Anxiety and Depression in Patients with Breast Cancer and Gynaecological Cancer
Author(s) -
R Schwarz,
Oliver Krauß,
Michael Höckel,
Alexandra Meyer,
Markus Zenger,
Andreas Hinz
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
breast care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.767
H-Index - 30
eISSN - 1661-3805
pISSN - 1661-3791
DOI - 10.1159/000177654
Subject(s) - medicine , anxiety , depression (economics) , hospital anxiety and depression scale , breast cancer , cancer , population , psychiatry , environmental health , economics , macroeconomics
BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to assess the course of anxiety and depression in cancer patients over time and to detect determinants of the changes in the scores. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Women with breast cancer and gynaecological cancer (n = 367) were tested at the beginning (T1) and at the end (T2) of treatment in the hospital, 6 months later (T3), and 12 months later (T4), using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). RESULTS: Anxiety and depression were highest at the start of the stay in the hospital. More than half of the women are at least doubtful cases in at least one of the two HADS dimensions. The mean scores declined from T1 to T4. After 1 year, depression scores are similar to those of the general population, while anxiety scores remain elevated. The decline of the HADS scores depends on treatment, time since diagnosis, and education. CONCLUSIONS: Women receiving radio- or chemotherapy (compared with surgery only), with a long time since diagnosis, and with a low educational level are at high risk of maintaining high anxiety and depression scores over time.