The prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms and their associated factors among patients with cancer in Qatar: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Cancer is a significant global health challenge. One of the biggest health issues that cancer patients face is depression and anxiety. This has a significant impact on their quality of life and treatment outcomes. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of depression and anxiety among cancer patients in Qatar. Materials and methods: This study was a cross-sectional design using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scales. A total of 500 cancer patients were surveyed from the National Center for Cancer Care and Research in Doha. Results: The study found that a significant proportion of cancer patients suffered from depression, with an average PHQ-9 score indicating mild levels of severity. Depression was commonly categorized as mild, with a smaller percentage experiencing moderate, moderate-to-severe, or severe depression. Additionally, patients were predominantly anxious, as reflected by an average GAD-7 score, with most patients experiencing mild to moderate symptoms, while a few experienced moderate or severe anxiety. These findings highlight the significant prevalence of both depression and anxiety among cancer patients, pointing to the importance of comprehensive mental health support. Moreover, patients with advanced-stage cancer, those in their 40s and 60s, those undergoing radiotherapy or hormone therapy, and female patients were found to be more susceptible to depression and anxiety. Conclusion: Treatment of mental health issues is essential to enhancing the effectiveness of cancer treatment. Cancer patients can have a higher quality of life and better adherence to cancer treatments when mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety are identified and treated early. Furthermore, most patients reported having depression and anxiety, according to the study, which showed that these conditions were more common in Qatar than in other countries. Several demographic groups have been linked to higher rates of depression and anxiety, including women, middle-aged adults, people with stage IV cancer, and patients receiving therapies such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy.