PREVALENCE OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION IN CANCER-PATIENTS SEEN AT THE NORWEGIAN-RADIUM-HOSPITAL

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of anxiety and depression in cancer patients seen at the Norwegian Radium Hospital, using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the EORTC QLQ- C33 and an ad hoc designed questionnaire. In addition, information abo ut the patients' malignant disease and treatment was obtained. The pre valence of anxiety and depression among 716 evaluable patients was 13% and 9% respectively, as assessed with HADS. In hospitalised patients, the risk of psychiatric distress was approximately twice that of pati ents in the outpatient clinic. Female patients reported significantly more anxiety than men. Patients <30 or >70 years old expressed less an xiety than all other patients. Age or gender had no influence on the o ccurrence of depression. Impaired ability to continue professional wor k and/or daily life activities, impaired social life and previous psyc hiatric problems were significantly correlated with anxiety and depres sion as were impaired physical function, fatigue and pain. The prevale nce of depression, but not anxiety, increased in the presence of dista nt metastases, with less than a month since diagnosis, and with relaps e or progression. In the logistic regression analysis, a history of pr evious psychiatric problems and impaired social life were correlated w ith both anxiety and depression. Female gender, impaired physical acti vity and impaired social role function were additional predictive para meters for anxiety, whereas fatigue predicted depression. Careful atte ntion should be paid to cancer patients displaying these problems in o rder to diagnose and treat depression and anxiety disorders. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.