Predicting mood disorders in breast cancer patients

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Psychiatry
• Psychological Medicine

Background:

• Breast cancer patients face a significant risk of developing delayed psychiatric disorders.
• Early identification of these conditions is crucial for timely intervention and improved patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of screening questionnaires in predicting delayed psychiatric disorders among breast cancer patients.
• To compare the predictive accuracy of different assessment timings (pre-chemotherapy, during chemotherapy, follow-up).

Main Methods:

• Two validated questionnaires, the Psychological Distress Inventory and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, were administered at multiple time points.
• Logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of psychiatric morbidity.
• Psychiatric diagnoses were assigned to patients at follow-up.

Main Results:

• Increasing age and a history of psychiatric illness were significantly associated with psychiatric morbidity.
• The predictive accuracy of the screening questionnaires improved from pre-chemotherapy to during chemotherapy evaluations.
• The highest predictive accuracy was achieved with concurrent evaluations at the follow-up visit.

Conclusions:

• Screening questionnaires, particularly when administered during chemotherapy and at follow-up, are valuable tools for predicting delayed psychiatric disorders in breast cancer patients.
• While clinical and demographic factors like age and psychiatric history are associated with morbidity, the questionnaires alone provided comparable predictive accuracy.
• Regular screening during and after treatment can aid in the early detection and management of mental health issues in this population.