Assessment for prevalence and pattern of depression in cancer patients

Abstract

The study aimed to assess the prevalence and severity of depression in cancer patients and to look for any association with sociodemographic profile. Patients registered for various cancers at a regional cancer centre were followed-up between July 2013 to October 2013. Depression in cancer patients was screened using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) questionnaire and administered the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) for severity of depression. Out of 183 cancer patients screened, 44 (24%) patients were identified to have depression using MINI. Mild to moderate depression was seen in 68% of married patients, and severe to very severe depression in unmarried and widowed group, severe to very severe depression was more prevalent in the illiterate group of patients (33%), and there was no association of subjective economic inequalities with degrees of depression. Further studies on larger sample size without selection bias will reveal the prevalence of depression in cancer patients.

Keywords

• Cancer
• depression
• hamilton depression rating scale
• sociodemographic profile