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Depressive, anxiety, and distress symptoms among cancer patients who endorse appearance problems

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 August 2018

Deepti Chopra Open the ORCID record for Deepti Chopra [Opens in a new window]  and
Richard De La Garza II
Deepti Chopra*
Affiliation:
University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Psychiatry, Houston, TX
Richard De La Garza II
Affiliation:
University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Psychiatry, Houston, TX
*
Author for correspondence: Deepti Chopra, M.B.B.S., M.P.H., 1400 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030-3722. E-mail: dachopra@mdanderson.org ORCID ID# 0000-0001-5678-1318
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Abstract

Objective

Body image is a vital and complex issue in cancer patients, but not well recognized. In the ambulatory psychiatric-oncology clinic, we assessed what portion of cancer patients endorsed appearance problems and if they differed in terms of depression, anxiety, or distress scores when compared with those who did not endorse appearance problems.

Method

All adult patients with active cancer diagnosis seen in the outpatient psychiatry oncology clinic (June 2014–January 2016) who provided informed consent were included (N = 1,939) in the cross-sectional study design. “Appearance problems” were assessed as a categorical, binomial variable (yes/no) using the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Distress Thermometer checklist. Other assessments included the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Patient Health Questionnaire-2, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Distress Thermometer, and Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale.

Result

The overall prevalence rate of individuals who endorsed appearance problems was approximately 36%; they were more likely to be younger, female, Black or Hispanic, and not in a committed relationship (all results for demographic variables were statistically significant; all p < .001). Importantly, those patients who endorsed appearance problems exhibited higher scores for depression (p < .0001), anxiety (p < .0001), and distress (p < .0001), and these differences were of medium effect size (Cohen's d = 0.5−0.6).

Significance of results

The current results underscore the need to identify patients with body image problems early given that they are likely to exhibit higher magnitude of anxiety, depression and distress symptoms while undergoing cancer care. The results highlight the importance of body image issues and the need to evaluate them in cancer patients.

Keywords

AnxietyBody imageDepressionEmotional distressPhysical appearanceCancer
Type
Original Article
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 17 , Issue 3 , June 2019 , pp. 328 - 332
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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