Depression in cancer patients attending outpatients department of tertiary care hospitals of Karachi

To find out the frequency of depression and associated socio demographic factors in cancer patients of Karachi. A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted during July-August 2013. Through convenient sampling method, one hundred diagnosed cancer patients were selected from outpatient department [OPD] of a private and a public sector teaching hospital. Patients of both gender, 18 years of age and above and who were diagnosed with cancer at least one month before the interview were included. Depression was assessed by Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9]. The questionnaire includes all nine criteria for diagnosis of cancer as described by Diagnostic and Statisical Manual of Mental Disorders IV [DSM-IV]. Data was analyzed by SPSS version 20. Chi square test was applied for categorical data at a significance level of p<.05. Mean age of participants was 45.46 +/- 13.8 SD years [range: 18 - 85 years]. Fifty three percent were males; Seventy eight percent were currently married. Mean income was 13262 +/- 9107 SD Pakistani rupees [range: 4500 - 45,000 Rs]. Seventy four percent patients were permanent residents of Karachi. In females breast cancer while in males oral cavity cancer were the leading type of cancers. Sixty five percent patients had current depression ranging from mild to severe. Seventy percent patients had financial problems in terms of treatment cost. Chemotherapy, fatigue and financial problems were positively associated with depression [p<0.05]. Frequency of depression in cancer patients is very high. Majority of the patients were married and had financial constraints in terms of treatment cost