N. Aass et al., PREVALENCE OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION IN CANCER-PATIENTS SEEN AT THE NORWEGIAN-RADIUM-HOSPITAL, European journal of cancer, 33(10), 1997, pp. 1597-1604
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.