Volume : VIII, Issue : III, March - 2018

SCREENING FOR DEPRESSION IN CANCER PATIENTS RECEIVING RADIOTHERAPY.

Dr. M. Pandu Ranga Kumari, Dr. P. Rajesh

Abstract :

 

Background: Depression is a serious problem in cancer patients, increases distress, perception of pain, suicidal  attempts,  hospital stay, decreased adherence to treatment and quality of life, and worse prognosis which can be prevented by screening and treatment of depression.

Materials and Methods: We conducted a exploratory descriptive study of 145  cancer cases, with biopsy proven and considered for radiotherapy treatment during the period of October 2012 to September 2014.with the help of proforma filling and PHQ2 depression screening tool, patients are screened for depression in terms of age, sex, marital status, living companion, education, occupation, addictions, socioeconomic status, site and stage of tumor.

Results:  in my study depression rates are more – in young 31–40 yrs (62.5%),male (58.6 %),married(52.4%), living with joint family(50%),literate (61.3%),unemployed(57.1%), with alcohol abuse (63% ),without any smoking abuse (63.2%), without any gutka or chewing habit  (60.4%),  Class II  status ( 66.7%), head and neck site(64.2%), stage IV( 66.7%).

Conclusions:  all the above factors are predictors of depression and screening can be done using simple screening tools like PHQ2 for early detection and treatment in turn for good prognosis.

Keywords :

Article: Download PDF   DOI : 10.36106/ijar  

Cite This Article:

Dr.M.Pandu Ranga Kumari, Dr.P.Rajesh, SCREENING FOR DEPRESSION IN CANCER PATIENTS RECEIVING RADIOTHERAPY., INDIAN JOURNAL OF APPLIED RESEARCH : Volume-8 | Issue-3 | March-2018

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