Abstract
Background Evidence regarding the relationship between synthetic house-tree-person (S-HTP) drawing test and depression in cancer patients is limited. The aim of this study was to explore the applicability and validity of S-HTP drawing test in cancer patients suffering from depression. Methods As a population based cross-sectional study, 167 patients with cancer were enrolled in a hospital in China from December 2015 to December 2017. Self-edited general information questionnaire, self-rating depression scale (SDS), and the S-HTP drawing test were completed by all participants. Results The average age of 167 selected participants was 52.92 ± 10.43 years old, and about 58.7% (98/167) of them were male. On SDS, depression rate was found in 34.1% (27/167) cancer patients. The logistic regression equation was established by using the depression drawing characteristics as the independent variables and the evaluation results from SDS as the dependent variable and 9 drawing characteristics employed in the regression equation (χ2 = 68.657, P < 0.001. Nagelkerke R2= 0.466). Correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between S-HTP drawing test and SDS for depression state of cancer patients (p < 0.01). Conclusions There are interrater reliability and test-retest reliability between S-HTP drawing test and SDS. The S-HTP drawing test could help in screening depression in cancer patients.
Highlights
The increase in morbidity and mortality of cancer has made it the leading cause of death in China since 2010 [1]
A projective test is a personality test designed to let a person respond to ambiguous stimuli, presumably revealing hidden emotions and internal conflicts projected by the person into the test [7, 8]
Thirty-three patients were excluded from the study because they failed to complete the self-rating depression scale (SDS) or synthetic house-tree-person (S-HTP) drawing test, and 167 cancer patients were included
Summary
The increase in morbidity and mortality of cancer has made it the leading cause of death in China since 2010 [1]. We found that the investigation of the psychological problems of cancer patients is mostly in the form of a questionnaire, such as distress thermometer [5]. This method is easy to cause the resistance and noncooperation of cancer patients, which may make them alert or defensive. Correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between S-HTP drawing test and SDS for depression state of cancer patients (p < 0.01). The S-HTP drawing test could help in screening depression in cancer patients
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