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Long-term cancer survivors at greater risk for anxiety than depression
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Cancer survivors are at greater risk for anxiety than depression in the years after their diagnosis, researchers reported.
“Our results suggest that after diagnosis of cancer, increased rates of anxiety tend to persist compared with healthy controls, whereas increased rates of depression are less long-lasting,” they said.
With about 70% of patients with cancer now living for at least 5 years after diagnosis and the number of people with cancer projected to reach 21 million by 2020, researchers set out to determine the long-term psychological risks associated with a cancer diagnosis. Data was collected from 43 study comparisons that assessed the long-term prevalence of depression in adults at least 2 years after diagnosis. These studies examined levels of anxiety, levels of depression, and the effect of anxiety and depression on the partner of the patient. Results of the comparisons showed levels of depression in cancer survivors 2 years after diagnosis (11.6%, 95% CI, 7.7-16.2) that were similar to those with no history of cancer (10.2%, 95% CI, 8-12.6). Results also showed that cancer survivors are 27% more likely to experience anxiety. However, the prevalence of anxiety was higher in the partners of cancer survivors than in the survivors themselves (40.1% vs. 28%).
“Depression is an important problem after cancer, but it tends to improve within 2 years of a diagnosis unless there is a further complication. Anxiety is less predictable and is a cause for concern even 10 years after diagnosis. However, detection of anxiety has been overlooked compared with screening for distress or depression,” study researcher Alex Mitchell, of Leicester General Hospital, United Kingdom, concluded.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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