ABSTRACT
Someterse a radioterapia y padecer los efectos secundarios son situaciones que generan ansiedad y depresión en las mujeres con cáncer de mama. El objetivo fue evaluar la prevalencia de ansiedad y depresión que presentan las mujeres con cáncer de mama en radioterapia y analizar los efectos y las diferencias de variables clínicas y sociodemográficas sobre su malestar psicológico. Participaron 203 mujeres mexicanas con cáncer de mama en estadios 0-III. Para evaluar ansiedad y depresión se utilizó la versión adaptada de la escala The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) y los datos sociodemográficos se recolectaron mediante una entrevista estructurada. La prevalencia de ansiedad y depresión fue 27 y 28% respectivamente. Escolaridad F (6,203) = 2.39, p =.009 y ocupación F (3,203) = 1.32, p =.009 tuvieron un efecto significativo sobre depresión; mientras que "vive con" resultó significativa F (6,203) = 2.69, p = .016 únicamente con ansiedad. Significativamente las pacientes deprimidas (M = 3.73) presentaron más efectos secundarios que las no deprimidas (M = 2.84). Resequedad en la boca, irritación en la piel y dolor en la zona radiada fueron los síntomas más reportados. La prevalencia de ansiedad y depresión encontrada, indica la importancia de proporcionar apoyo psicológico a las pacientes.
Enduring the symptoms of breast cancer and the effects of radiation therapy frequently lead to depressive and anxious symptoms in patients. The purpose of the present study was to examine the prevalence of anxious and depressive symptomatology in these patients and to explore the effects of clinical and socio-demographic variables on psychological distress. A total of 203 women with breast cancer, in stages 0 - III from a large public medical center in Mexico City participated. Anxious and depressive symptomatology was assessed through the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Socio-demographic data were obtained through a structured interview. Prevalence of anxious and depressive symptomatologies were 27% and 28% respectively. One-way ANOVA on socio-demographic variables with symptomatology revealed that schooling F (6.203) = 2.39, p = .009 and occupation F (3.203) = 1.32, p = .009 were significant for depressive symptomatology. Living with specific persons was significant F (6.203) = 2.69, p = .016 for anxious symptomatology. The clinical variables "radiotherapy week" and specific features of the diagnostic, as well as marital status and age groups showed small differences related to either anxious or depressive symptomatology. More radiation side effects were reported by women with (M = 3.73) than those without (M = 2.84) depressive symptoms. The most frequent side effects were dry mouth, skin irritation and pain in the radiated area. The high levels of distress and the extreme physical discomfort produced by radiotherapy make the present findings useful for developing interventions aimed at helping breast cancer patients under radiation therapy.