Depression and anxiety during isolation and radionuclide therapy

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Nuclear Medicine

Background:

• Radionuclide therapy involves isolation and radioactivity, potentially impacting patient psychological well-being.
• Understanding psychological responses is crucial for patient compliance and acceptance of treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate psycho-pathological manifestations and personality vulnerabilities in patients undergoing radionuclide therapy.
• To assess the influence of disease type, demographics, and individual characteristics on psychological state during radioisolation.

Main Methods:

• 48 patients undergoing radionuclide therapy completed questionnaires assessing anxiety, depression, hopelessness, personality, and coping strategies.
• Psychiatric evaluation included Spielberger State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), and Utrecht's Coping List (UCL).

Main Results:

• High state anxiety correlated with increased depression and hopelessness.
• Patients with high anxiety exhibited higher harm avoidance and lower self-directedness in personality.
• Inadequate coping strategies included passive, avoidant, and poorly aimed approaches.
• Disease type (malignant vs. non-malignant), gender, age, education, relationship status, and hospitalization duration did not significantly influence anxiety levels.

Conclusions:

• Patient psychological distress during radionuclide therapy is primarily associated with individual personality traits and coping mechanisms, rather than the nature of the disease or demographic factors.
• Screening for trait anxiety prior to admission can identify at-risk individuals.
• Interventions tailored to personality and coping strategies can enhance patient comfort and treatment acceptability.