Comparative assessment of anxiety and depression levels in cancer patients and their companions in a highly complex oncology unit in Amapá

Abstract

Cancer, due to its high lethality rate, generates negative feelings, which can modify family performance and cause great suffering. With this, it predisposes both the patient, caregivers and family members to the development of mental disorders. Of these, the most common are depression and anxiety. Based on the importance of the aforementioned scenario and the need to know the reality in the State of Amapá, the levels of anxiety and depression of outpatients and their companions at the High Complexity Oncology Unit of the State of Amapá were analyzed comparatively. Amapá, through a qualitative, descriptive and cross-sectional study, applying a sociodemographic questionnaire and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. After analysis, we found in this study a sociodemographic profile compatible with that expected for the State and similar to those of regions with a low level of socioeconomic development in the various variables analyzed. In addition, it was found in the present study that companions are possibly more depressed than anxious, a fact confirmed by statistical tests. This differs from the findings pointed out in other literature, in which anxiety is more reported than depression. Thus, it was concluded that in addition to strengthening public health policies, there is a need to strengthen a broad family approach, as well as the need for further studies aimed at elucidating the divergence found in the anxiety category.