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.
Brown
Linda F
LF
Psychology Department, Indiana University Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. lfbrown@iupui.edu
Kroenke
Kurt
K
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