Predictors of anxiety and depression in people with colorectal cancer.
BACKGROUND
People living with colorectal cancer are at risk of anxiety and depression. We investigated what factors were most highly associated with these.


METHODS
Four hundred and ninety-six people with colorectal cancer completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Data on functioning, symptoms, illness perceptions and social difficulties were collected by questionnaire. Case-note-identified disease, treatment and co-morbidity data were recorded. Multiple logistic regression identified factors independently predictive of anxiety and depression caseness.


RESULTS
Self-reported history of anxiety/depression predicted anxiety but not depression caseness. Depression caseness predicted anxiety caseness (p = 0.043), as did poorer self-reported cognitive functioning (p = 0.001), dyspnoea (p = 0.015) or diarrhoea (p = 0.021), reporting a high negative life and emotional impact (p < 0.001) and having difficulties with finance (p = 0.007). Having neo-adjuvant radiotherapy increased the odds of depression caseness (p = 0.007), as did poorer physical (p = 0.007), cognitive (p < 0.001) and social (p < 0.001) functioning, having constipation (p = 0.011), reporting a high negative life and emotional impact (p < 0.001), having difficulties with personal care (p = 0.022) and communicating with others (p = 0.014).


CONCLUSIONS
Levels of anxiety caseness were similar to those of non-clinical samples, but depression caseness was higher, particularly in those who had received neo-adjuvant radiotherapy. Most factors associated with possible or probable depression may be modified with appropriate intervention.
Nicola M
NM
Gray
Susan J
SJ
Hall
Susan
S
Browne
Marie
M
Johnston
Amanda J
AJ
Lee
Una
U
Macleod
Elizabeth D
ED
Mitchell
Leslie
L
Samuel
Neil C
NC
Campbell
D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires