Prevalence and predictive factors of depression and anxiety in patients with pancreatic cancer: a longitudinal study

Objective: It is known that depression and anxiety occur more frequently in pancreatic cancer patients than in those with other malignancies. However, few studies have assessed depression and anxiety using reliable psychiatric diagnostic tools. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of depression and anxietyamong pancreatic cancer patients before and 1 month after the startof anticancertreatment usingreliablepsychiatric diagnostic tools,and toidentifyfactorsthat predict their occurrence. Methods: Pancreatic cancer patients were consecutively recruited. Structured clinical interviews were used to determine the presence of affective disorders, anxiety disorders and adjustment disorders. Baseline interviews were performed prior to initiation of anticancer treatment, while follow-up interviews were performed 1 month after treatment was started. Medical, demographic and psychosocial backgrounds were also assessed as predictive factors. Results: One hundred and ten patients participated in the baseline interview and 91 in the follow-up interview. Depression and anxiety were observedin15patients (13.6%) at thebaseline, and 15patients (16.5%)atthefollow-up.Lackofconfidantswasassociatedwithdepressionandanxietyatthebaseline. At the baseline, sadness, lower Karnofsky Performance Status and priorexperiencewith the death of a family member due to cancer predicted newly diagnosed depression and anxiety at the follow-up. Conclusion: A considerable percentage of pancreatic cancer patients experienced depression and anxiety. Multidimensional psychosocial predictive factors were found and optimal psychological care should incorporate early detection of sadness.