title: Factors associated with anxiety and depressive symptoms in colorectal cancer survivors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Up to 37% of colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors report depressive and anxiety symptoms. The identification of risk factors for depressive or anxiety symptoms might help focus supportive care resources on those patients most in need. The present study aims to explore which factors are associated with heightened anxiety or depression symptom severity.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, individuals diagnosed with CRC 3.5 to 6 years ago completed questionnaires on sociodemographic information, medical comorbidities, anxiety symptoms (Beck Anxiety Inventory), and depressive symptoms (Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology). The general linear model analysis of covariance was used to identify factors associated with heightened anxiety or depressive symptom severity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sample included 91 CRC survivors, 40.7% women, mean age 69.1 years. A minority of CRC survivors had moderate (3.4%) or severe (2.3%) anxiety symptoms, and moderate (7.7%) or severe (0%) depressive symptoms. Shorter time since diagnosis and higher number of comorbid diseases were associated with higher anxiety symptom severity. Female sex and higher number of comorbid diseases were associated with higher depressive symptom severity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  From this explorative study, it follows that survivors with multiple comorbid diseases, shorter time since diagnosis, and female survivors might be at risk for higher anxiety and/or depressive symptom severity. Survivors with these characteristics might need extra monitoring.
authors.affiliation: aDepartment of Psychiatry and EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research Departments of bGastroenterology and Hepatology cRehabilitation Medicine, VU University Medical Center dDepartment of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Sint Lucas Andreas Hospital, Amsterdam eDepartment of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Rode Kruis Hospital, Beverwijk fDepartment of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kennemer Gasthuis, Haarlem gDepartment of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical Center Alkmaar, Alkmaar hDepartment of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Zaans Medical Center, Zaandam iDepartment of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Spaarne Hospital, Hoofddorp, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Annemarie M J
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Braamse
authors.forename: Sietze T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: van Turenhout
authors.forename: Jochim S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Terhaar Sive Droste
authors.forename: Gerrit H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: de Groot
authors.forename: René W M
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: van der Hulst
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klemt-Kropp
authors.forename: Sjoerd D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Kuiken
authors.forename: Ruud J L F
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Loffeld
authors.forename: M Tessa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Uiterwaal
authors.forename: Chris J J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Mulder
authors.forename: Joost
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dekker
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*