Title: Prevalence of Anxiety and Depression among Cancer Patients

Authors: Rakesh Kumar, Krishna Kumar Singh, Alik Anthony Rae, Rajesh Kumar Singh, Guddi Rani Singh

 DOI:  https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v4i11.30

Abstract

Background: Depression and anxiety have negative effects on the quality of life of cancer patients, thus hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) is a useful instrument for screening these problems. This research was performed to assess the prevalence of anxiety and depression among cancer patients.

Methods: One hundred twenty patients with the diagnosis of different cancers in IGIMS, Patna were assessed. Purposive sampling was done to collect the data. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used to assess the anxiety and depression respectively.

Results: Result shows that 56.7% and 64.2% patients were suffering from anxiety and depression respectively. 54(45.0%) & 14 (11.7%) patients had mild and severe anxiety respectively. 29 (24.2%), 39 (32.5%) and 2 (1.7%) patients had mild, moderate and severe depression respectively. There were significant relationships in relation to family history, past history and socio economic history with anxiety and depression.

Conclusion: There is a need to develop an evidence base practice to introduce interventions as untreated anxiety and depression can lead to significant morbidity. The results show that patients with cancer had the prevalence of anxiety and depression among all type of cancer patients. Therefore, continuous screening for anxiety and depression is recommended as a necessary approach for good cancer care.

Keywords: Cancer, Anxiety &Depression

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Corresponding Author

Dr Krishna Kumar Singh

Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, IGIMS, Patna, Bihar, India

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