Relationship of anxiety and depression to quality of life in patients with cancer

ABSTRACT

Cancers are known to be grave disorders affecting patients and their families both physically and emotionally. The present study was planned to determine anxiety and depression in cancer patients and their relationship with quality of life. A total of 205 cancer patients from the wards of Oncology department, Combined Military Hospital [CMH], Rawalpindi were included in the study. The study population included the patients with various malignancies. The Hospital anxiety and depression scale [HADS] and EORTC-QLQ-C30 with a written consent was obtained from all the patients. Basic demographic data including age, marital status, treatment and diagnosis were collected from all the participants in a properly designed questionnaire. In total 205 cancer patients were studied. The mean age of patients was 41.04 years [SD=16.04 years]. Majority of patients were males [76.6%] and married [79%]. Mostly patients were getting chemotherapy [62.4%]. Various malignancies included Leukemias [27.3%], Gl malignancies [12.2%], Lymphomas [10.2%], Sarcoma [6.8%], Breast tumors [5.9%] and others were 37.6%. Overall 89.8% of cancer patients were found to have anxiety and depression A significant negative correlation was observed among anxiety, depression and quality of life with [r= -0.46 and r= -0.47] respectively. Poor quality of life was observed in those who have higher psychological distress. Psycho social stress and expensive treatment of cancer leads to psychological distress and it reduces patient's physical, social and emotional functioning. Psychotherapeutic treatment along with medication should be implemented as the best way to help cancer patients to cope up their distress and to improve their quality of life.