Four weeks of daily assessments of anxiety, depression and activity compared to a point assessment with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.
OBJECTIVE
To explore to what extent the daily reporting of anxiety, depression and activity in a diary mirrors scores on point assessments with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS).


METHODS
In a randomized intervention study consecutive breast cancer patients (n = 179) about to start adjuvant therapy were included. The HADS questionnaires were sent to patients 3 and 12 months after inclusion. Daily reporting of anxiety, depression and activity on Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) were completed during 4 weeks surrounding the HADS assessments.


RESULTS
The results showed moderate correlations (r = -0.36 to -0.67, P < 0.01) at both assessments. The daily reports were consistent over 4 weeks and did not differ between assessments. Mean scores on the HAD-Anxiety were 4.00 at the 3 months and 5.07 at the 12 months assessment. For the HAD-Depression the mean scores at the same assessment points were 3.61 and 3.23, respectively. The daily reports put more strain on the respondents and produced a larger attrition rate than the HADS.


CONCLUSIONS
A point assessment with the HADS captures the situation of breast cancer patients' equivalent to 4 weeks assessment in a diary, but is easier to complete and is therefore preferable to the diary.
Arving
Cecilia
C
Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Section of Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, 751 83, Uppsala, Sweden. cecilia.arving@pubcare.uu.se
Glimelius
Bengt
B
Brandberg
Yvonne
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden