Anxiety and depression in young adult German cancer patients: time course and associated factors
Menée en Allemagne par questionnaire auprès de 514 adolescents et jeunes adultes atteints d'un cancer (âge moyen : 29,6 ans), cette étude analyse l'évolution des facteurs associés au risque d'anxiété et de dépression
Objective : Cancer in young adulthood is a non-normative and critical life event. The experience of having cancer can have a strong impact on the mental health of young adults. This study investigated anxiety and depression in young adult cancer patients, examining changes over time and determining associated factors. Methods : Young cancer patients (18-39 years at time of diagnosis, diagnosis <4 years) were examined. Anxiety and depression were measured at two time points (t2=12 months after t1) using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Regression analyses were conducted to determine whether sociodemographic, medical and/or psychosocial factors (social support, adjustment to the illness, unmet supportive care needs) were associated with patients’ anxiety and depression. Results : 514 young cancer patients (mean age 29.6 years, 75.1% women) completed both questionnaires. A higher proportion showed elevated levels of anxiety (t1:42.2%; t2:45.3%) than of depression (t1:16.9%; t2:17.7%), and no significant changes in anxiety and depression levels over time were observed. Psychosocial factors explained a major proportion of the variances for anxiety and depression levels at both time points (adjusted R2 between 0.50-0.59). Furthermore, significant associations were found for anxiety (t1) with gender (women↑); anxiety (t2) and depression (t2) with sick leave (sick leave yes↑); depression (t2) with time since diagnosis (longer time↑). Conclusion : Psychological distress among adolescents and young adults (AYA) manifests particularly as anxiety. Strong associations between anxiety/depression and psychosocial factors, as well as the stability of psychological distress over time, clearly illustrate the need for psycho-oncological care in this patient group.
Psycho-Oncology 2019