Psychological distress and functional dependency in colorectal cancer patients

This research was done to describe the nature and degree of psychological distress persons experience after receiving a diagnosis of colorectal cancer and to describe the effect on functional dependency of that distress during the first 3 months of treatment. The sample consisted of 66 persons who completed interviews before surgery and 1 and 3 months after surgery. Depressive symptoms changed substantially over time in relation to the events of diagnosis and treatment. Having an ostomy, additional treatment, and depressive symptoms were predictors of functional dependency after surgery. The findings suggest that depressive symptoms, even at low levels, are important to address because they may reduce patients' ability to function in their usual roles and activities for considerable periods after colorectal cancer surgery.