title: Distress levels in patients undergoing chemotherapy in Brazil.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to measure distress at three points during the course of chemotherapy: beginning, middle, and the last day of therapy in a private cancer center in Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred patients were assessed at three points during chemotherapy using the Distress Thermometer (DT) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The data were analyzed with the support of SPSS 15.0 software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the beginning of chemotherapy, patients mean scores were distress (82%), anxiety (78%) and depression (55%). In the middle of treatment, the percentages of distress, anxiety and depression decreased to 36.4, 25 and 25.3%, respectively. On the last day, the levels were 18.2% for distress and 14.3% for both anxiety and depression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Distress is highest in these patients at the beginning of chemotherapy, suggesting that evaluation of patients for psychosocial needs is important. Screening with a simple rapid instrument such as the DT is feasible and useful.
authors.affiliation: Psycho-Oncology Services, CETTRO-Centro de Câncer de Brasília (Brasilia Cancer Center), Brasília, DF, Brazil. cristiane@cettro.com.br
authors.forename: Cristiane Sant'Anna
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Decat
authors.forename: Tereza Cristina Cavalcanti Ferreira
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: de Araujo
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stiles
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D001938:Brazil; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents