title: Psychological characteristics of Japanese gynecologic cancer patients after learning the diagnosis according to the hospital anxiety and depression scale.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Anxiety and depression are common in cancer patients, because diagnosis of cancer raises the fear of death. Although mental problems are often overlooked in cancer patients, it is important to control psychological distress, improve the quality of life, encourage patients to express requests about cancer therapy appropriately, and reduce the burden on family members.
  
  
  METHODS
  There were 214 patients admitted to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of St. Marianna University Hospital for treatment of cancer between January 2007 and December 2008. At 2 weeks after learning the diagnosis of cancer, these patients completed a Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire, and their psychological characteristics were investigated in relation to age, tumor type and time after learning the diagnosis. The cut-off value for intervention to manage maladjustment and major depression was set at a HADS score of 11.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The HADS score was 11 in 118 of the 214 patients (55.1%). The HADS score for anxiety was higher in younger patients, while the HADS score for depression was higher in older patients. There were no significant correlations between the HADS score and the type of gynecologic cancer (cervical cancer, endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer) or the time after learning the diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Assessment based on the HADS score revealed a high prevalence of psychological problems after announcement of the diagnosis of gynecologic cancer. This emphasizes the importance of psychiatric intervention when patients are informed of their condition.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Marianna University, School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan. nao@marianna-u.ac.jp
authors: Nao
authors: N
authors: Suzuki
authors: Masato
authors: M
authors: Ninomiya
authors: Satoko
authors: S
authors: Maruta
authors: Shinji
authors: S
authors: Hosonuma
authors: Yoshiko
authors: Y
authors: Nishigaya
authors: Yoichi
authors: Y
authors: Kobayashi
authors: Kazushige
authors: K
authors: Kiguchi
authors: Bunpei
authors: B
authors: Ishizuka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology