Work

Pain is associated with continuing depression in cancer survivors

Year: 2018

Type: article

Abstract: Depression is common but under-diagnosed in cancer survivors. This study characterized depressive symptoms over one year in cancer survivors and examined disease-related and psychosocial predictors of depression severity. Participants (n = 122; Mage 65.33, SD = 9.17, 98.4% male) with head and neck, esophageal, gastric, or colorectal cancers were recruited through tumor registries at two regional Veterans Administration Medical Centers. Self-report measures assessing depressive symptoms (PHQ-9), combat-related PTSD symptoms (PC-PTSD), and health-related quality of life (PROMIS) were administered at six, twelve, and eighteen months after diagnosis. Symptoms consistent with major depression were endorsed by approximately one-quarter of the sample at six (24%), twelve (22%), and eighteen (26%) months post diagnosis, with 12% of participants reporting consistently significant depressive symptoms. In multivariate modeling, significant predictors of depression at eighteen months included prior depressive symptoms (β = .446, p < 0.001) and current pain interference (β = .231, p = .003). The present findings suggest that major depression is common and persistent one year following cancer diagnosis. Attention to pain management and routine monitoring of mood symptoms is critical to reducing risk of depression in cancer survivors.

Source: Psychology Health & Medicine

DOI: 10.1080/13548506.2018.1476723

Authors: Patricia M. Bamonti, Jennifer Moye, Aanand D. Naik

Institutions: Harvard University, VA Boston Healthcare System, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Baylor College of Medicine

Language: English

Topic: Cancer survivorship and care

Subfield: Oncology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs