title: Correlations between state anxiety and quality of life in metastatic breast cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to evaluate the correlations between perceived state anxiety during chemotherapy and quality of life in metastatic breast cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  62 metastatic breast cancer patients were evaluated during chemotherapy concerning age, living environment, marital status, social support and preexisting financial difficulties, the histological type of cancer, the site of the metastasis, the time from diagnosis, the type of surgical intervention, dexamethasone use, somatic comorbidities and the radiotherapy. The STAI-X1, BDI- IIA and the QLQ 30 (Quality of Life Questionnaire 30) plus BR 23 (Breast 23) questionnaires were applied. For the statistical analysis we used the SPSS 13 package.
  
  
  RESULTS
  24 subjects were experiencing low state anxiety (< or =39), whilst 38 had significant state anxiety (>39). Statistically significant differences were encountered between the two compared subgroups concerning the living environment, the type of surgical intervention, the marital status, the social support and the mean BDI scores, adjusted means were calculated for the items considered to potentially influence quality of life. Social, emotional and role functioning had lower scores in the low state anxiety group. Fatigue, future perspective, chemotherapy induced side effects, breast symptoms, upset by hair loss and sexual functioning were more disturbing in the high state anxiety group. The general health/quality of life mean score was lower in the low state anxiety group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher state anxiety correlates with certain quality of life items, suggesting that psychological counselling and appropriate therapy induced side effects management should be a priority in the palliative care for metastatic breast cancer patients.
authors: Neurosciences Department, County Emergency Hospital Cluj-Napoca.
authors: Bianca-Iasmina
authors: BI
authors: Dragomir
authors: Psychiatric Clinic 1, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Iuliu Haţieganu" Cluj-Napoca.
authors: Liana
authors: L
authors: Fodoreanu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000523:psychology* / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000523:psychology* / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011613:Psychotherapy; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D003907:Dexamethasone