Assessment of psychological distress in cancer outpatients treated with chemotherapy
Yokoyama, T.; Murakoshi, A.; Kurokawa, Y.; Kani, R.; Hayabe, H.; Miyasato, A.; Osato, Y.; Miyamatsu, H.; Sofuni, A.; Itoi, T.; Yamada, K.; Ikeda, N.; Iimori, M.; Ohyashiki, K.
Gan to Kagaku Ryoho. Cancer and ChemoTherapy 39(3): 415-419
2012
ISSN/ISBN: 0385-0684 PMID: 22421770 Document Number: 660653
Few studies have been conducted to elucidate the psychological distress of cancer outpatients being treated with chemotherapy. In this study, we attempted to determine the types of psychological distress endured by cancer outpatients being treated with chemotherapy. We investigated 194 outpatients with various malignancies, including hematological, esophageal, gastric, pancreatic, colon, lung, breast, ovarian, uterine and skin cancers, using the Japanese version of the Self-Rating Depression Scale, from June through December 2010, in our hospital. The results of the survey questionnaire indicated suspected adjustment disorders in 84 patients(43. 3%)and major depression in 14 patients(7. 2%). Medications prescribed for psychological distress were antianxiety drugs(18 patients: 9. 3%), antidepressant drugs(2 patients: 1. 0%), and sleeping pills(50 patients: 25. 8%). Our findings may be useful for the development of management strategies for psychological distress, and we suggest that there is a need for improvement in the quality of life of cancer outpatients being treated with chemotherapy.