Depression and Anxiety in Cancer Patients at a Tertiary Care Center in Central India

A BSTRACT Background and Objectives: Cancer is a life-threatening disease which can also lead to mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, which add to the burden of illness in cancer patients. This study aimed to describe the prevalence and risk factors of depression and anxiety among cancer patients during treatment. Materials and Methods: A total of 128 patients were included in the study. The prevalence of depression and anxiety in patients was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale. A cutoff score of ten or more was set to diagnose depression and anxiety, respectively. Various risk factors associated with depression and anxiety were assessed. Results: The prevalence of depression and anxiety in cancer patients was 31.25% and 15.62%, respectively. The prevalence of depression was most common in head-and-neck cancer and ovarian cancer, while the prevalence of anxiety was most common in head-and-neck cancer and lung cancer. The prevalence of both depression and anxiety was higher in stage IV versus stage III, in males versus females, and in the age group of 41–50 years. The patients receiving chemotherapy had a higher prevalence compared to those receiving combination treatment. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated a high prevalence of depression and anxiety in cancer patients during cancer treatment which is affected by a variety of factors. It highlights the problem of psychiatric burden in cancer patients and the need to address this problem by improving means for the early detection and early administration of treatment.