A large U.S. study found that depression may be associated with a higher risk of dying from cancer, while receiving psychotherapy during the first weeks after a cancer diagnosis was associated with a lower risk of cancer-related death.
اضافة اعلان
Researchers from the University of California, San Diego, explained that depression can be difficult to detect in cancer patients because symptoms such as fatigue, difficulty concentrating and loss of interest may overlap with cancer symptoms or treatment side effects. The study findings were presented Monday at the annual meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) in Boston.
Mental health care is an important part of cancer care, as depression may make it more difficult for patients to cope with diagnosis and treatment and may affect their quality of life and ability to manage the demands of the disease. Early identification of depressive symptoms and access to appropriate psychological support and treatment can therefore help patients cope with their treatment journey alongside standard medical care.
The researchers analyzed data from more than 265,000 people diagnosed with one of six common types of cancer: breast, colorectal, prostate, bladder, kidney and lung cancer. About 22% of the patients also had major depressive disorder.
The study found that patients with depression had an 11% higher risk of dying from cancer compared with those without depression. One year after diagnosis, cancer-related mortality stood at 29% among patients with depression, compared with 21% among those without depression. After five years, the rates rose to 43% and 35%, respectively.
Depression was most common among lung cancer patients, with 27% diagnosed with the condition, and least common among prostate cancer patients, at 13%. Depression was associated with a higher risk of cancer-related death across all six cancer types, with the strongest association observed among prostate cancer patients.
Psychotherapy
By contrast, receiving psychotherapy within the first four weeks after a cancer diagnosis was associated with a 21% lower risk of cancer-related death among patients with depression, after statistical adjustment. The association weakened as treatment was delayed, with the risk reduction standing at 13% when treatment was received within eight weeks and 12% within 12 weeks.
Over five years, cancer-related mortality was 31% among patients who received psychotherapy, compared with 44% among those who did not.
However, only 3% of cancer patients with depression received a psychotherapy session during the first four weeks after diagnosis. The figure rose to 4.6% by the 12th week.
According to the researchers, the findings highlight the importance of identifying and treating depression early in cancer patients, while developing individualized psychological support plans tailored to patients’ needs and different types of cancer.
Resource: Al-Ghad.
