Cancer-related fatigue and its associations with depression and anxiety: a systematic review.
BACKGROUND
Fatigue is an important symptom in cancer and has been shown to be associated with psychological distress.


OBJECTIVE
This review assesses evidence regarding associations of cancer-related fatigue with depression and anxiety.


METHODS
Database searches yielded 59 studies reporting correlation coefficients or odds ratios.


RESULTS
The combined sample size was 12,103. Almost all studies showed a correlation of fatigue with depression and with anxiety. However, 31 different instruments were used to assess fatigue, suggesting a lack of consensus on measurement.


CONCLUSIONS
This review confirms the association of fatigue with depression and anxiety. Directionality needs to be better delineated in longitudinal studies.
Psychology Department, Indiana University Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. lfbrown@iupui.edu
Linda F
LF
Brown
Kurt
K
Kroenke
D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales