Changes in Psychological Condition during Cancer Chemotherapy

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Psychiatry
• Clinical Pharmacy

Background:

• Psychological distress is common in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
• Patient mental health significantly impacts quality of life and treatment adherence.
• Chemotherapy can induce changes in psychological well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prospectively evaluate anxiety and depression levels in cancer patients during chemotherapy.
• To identify factors influencing psychological distress during cancer treatment.
• To compare patient self-assessments with medical staff assessments of psychological status.

Main Methods:

• Prospective observational study of 109 cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
• Assessment at baseline, after first course, and >2 months post-chemotherapy.
• Utilized Numerical Rating Scale for Anxiety (NRS-A), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-A, HADS-D), and PRO-CTCAE for patient self-assessment.
• CTCAE v5.0 used by healthcare professionals (pharmacist/nurse) for assessment.

Main Results:

• Anxiety and depression scores peaked at chemotherapy initiation and subsequently declined.
• Patients with prior psychiatric disorders or on psychotropic medication exhibited higher distress scores.
• Elevated distress scores in these patients persisted throughout the chemotherapy course.
• Patient self-reported scores were consistently higher than those reported by medical staff.

Conclusions:

• Psychiatric distress is most pronounced at the beginning of chemotherapy.
• Patients with a history of psychiatric issues or on psychotropic drugs experience prolonged elevated anxiety and depression.
• Self-assessment provides a higher indication of patient distress compared to medical staff assessment.