Depression, anxiety and general psychopathology in breast cancer patients: a cross-sectional control study.
OBJECTIVE
A significant proportion of breast cancer patients experience psychiatric morbidity. The present study compared the psychopathological profile (depression, anxiety and general psychopathology) of Greek women with breast cancer with a group of healthy controls.


METHODS
Patients (n=109) were recruited from a specialized oncology breast cancer department and healthy controls (n=71) from a breast outpatient clinic. General psychopathology was assessed by the SCL-90-R. The Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were used for assessing depression and anxiety. Demographics and clinical characteristics were also recorded. Data were modeled using multiple regression analysis.


RESULTS
The mean age was 54.7±18.1 years for the control group and 51.2±9.5 years for the patient group (p=0.288). Mean scores on SCL-90-R, MADRS and STAI were significantly higher in the cancer group compared to controls (p<0.05). Multiple regression analysis revealed that breast cancer was independently and positively associated with all psychological measures (p<0.05). Regression coefficients ranged from 0.19 (SCL-90-R, psychotism) to 0.33 (MADRS). Lower anger/aggressiveness and anxiety were found in highly educated women; divorced/widowed women scored higher on obsessionality and MADRS compared to married women. Psychiatric treatment was associated with higher scores on somatization, depression, phobic anxiety and general psychopathology.


CONCLUSIONS
Anxiety, depression, and overall psychopathology are more frequent in breast cancer patients compared to controls. Disease makes a larger independent contribution to all psychopathological measures than any other investigated variable. Therefore, breast cancer patients should be closely followed up in order to identify and timely treat any mental health problems that may arise.
Fafouti
M
M
University of Athens Medical School, First Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Paparrigopoulos
T
T
Zervas
Y
Y
Rabavilas
A
A
Malamos
N
N
Liappas
I
I
Tzavara
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D012307:Risk Factors