[Anxiety and depressive symptoms in patients treated due to haematologic malignancies]

Haematological treatment is associated with excessive distress due to side effects of cytostatics and due to severe life consequences of the illness. It could be a cause of anxiety or depressive states in vulnerable persons.

The purpose of the study was to assess prevalence of depression, anxiety disorders, and distress among patients treated due to haematologic malignancies.

45 patients with leukaemia or lymphoma, 29 treated due to other internal diseases and 28 healthy persons were assessed. The following research instruments were used: the Present State Examination (PSE), the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-30), criteria scales (ICD-10) for depression and anxiety.

Depression was diagnosed in 29% of the patients with hematological illnesses and in 11% of patients with other internal illnesses. Prevalence of GAD was appropriately 11% and 9%. Generally, psychiatric disorders were present in a half of the patients in every group. About 1/4 th of the haematologic patients had much more severe depressive symptoms than others.

The groups of patients have much higher, depressive and distress scores than controls. Psychiatric or psychotherapeutic treatment could be considered as part of the treatment of malignant haematologic cancers.