Psychiatric Issues in Women with Advanced Breast Cancer
Author Information
Author(s): P. Hopwood, A. Howell, P. Maguire
Primary Institution: Cancer Research Campaign Psychological Medicine Group
Hypothesis
What is the prevalence and persistence of affective disorders in women with advanced breast cancer?
Conclusion
Affective disorder may occur in up to one in four patients with advanced cancer of the breast, and be persistent in one third of these.
Supporting Evidence
- 27% of women showed probable cases of anxiety or depression.
- 13% of patients were persistently anxious or depressed after 1-3 months.
- Only 30 patients were identified as cases by both questionnaires.
Takeaway
Many women with advanced breast cancer feel very sad or anxious, and for some, these feelings don't go away.
Methodology
Patients completed two self-assessment questionnaires (HADS and RSCL) to measure psychological distress.
Potential Biases
The predictive power of the questionnaires is only about 50%, which may lead to misclassification of cases.
Limitations
The study's reliance on self-report questionnaires may not provide precise prevalence rates.
Participant Demographics
Women with advanced cancer of the breast, attending specialist clinics.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website