Cancer type, major determinant of mental distress in gyneco-mammary cancer patients undergoing antineoplastic treatment: cross-sectional analysis.

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was carried out on Moroccan women treated with nonsurgical treatment for breast or gynecological cancer (N=200). The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Body Image Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale, and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, were used. The type of cancer had a significant effect on mental health disorders but not the age. Women with breast cancer had significantly more mental health problems than women with gynecological cancer (P-values ​​<0.01). The predictive model of anxiety included the effects of the following variables: having a lower school level and an advanced tumor stage. While the predictive model of depression included advanced tumor stage and disease recurrence. For poor sleep quality, the variables included were: not having an occupation and having a lower monthly income. The variables that predicted body image dissatisfaction were: being younger, being unmarried, and living in a rural area. High mental distress in women with breast cancer and gynecological cancer is favored by several predictive factors. The implementation of a protocol for the assessment and management of distress is necessary in oncology departments.