Exploration of depressive symptoms in African American cancer patients

Abstract

Background: Accurately assessing depression in African American cancer patients is difficult because of the similarities of physical symptoms observed in cancer and depression.Aim: To identify universal and distinctive depressive symptoms in African American cancer patients.Methods: Seventy-four cancer patients (34 depressed and 23 non-depressed African Americans, and 17 depressed Whites) were interviewed. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were conducted.Results: Compared to non-depressed African Americans, depressed African Americans reported irritability, social isolation, insomnia, fatigue and crying (p ≤ 0.05) more frequently over time. Compared to depressed Whites, they reported sadness, frustration and intrusive thoughts less frequently (p ≤ 0.05), but insomnia and fatigue more frequently (p ≤ 0.05) during cancer treatment. There was little racial difference at the time of interview.Conclusion: Depressed African American cancer patients may benefit from more culturally sensitive depression measures that consider symptoms of irritability, social isolation and altered expressions of depressive mood.