Prognostic Factors of Depression in Patients With Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy

Abstract

Background: Cancer is one of the chronic diseases, which increases the risk of depression. The main causes of depression among these patients are pain due to metastasis, limited social activities and disability. Objectives: The aim of this research was to determine the prevalence of depression and relevant factors in patients with cancer referred to Shiraz Nemazee hospital for chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Patients and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study on 260 patients with cancer. To diagnose depression, the Beck questionnaire was used. To analyze data, logistic regression was more appropriate than the univariate analysis, because it simultaneously considers the effects of each of the predictors. Results: The prevalence of depression was 47.4%. There was a statistically significant association between depression and income (P < 0.001), family history of depression (P = 0.001), satisfaction with her or his condition (P < 0.001), disease duration (P < 0.001) and education (P = 0.025). Logistic regression revealed that the main effective factors were disease duration more than five years (OR = 5.9, P = 0.013), lack of satisfaction with her or his condition (OR = 19.6, P < 0.001) and family history of depression (OR = 2.4, P = 0.049). Conclusions: Consultation sessions are necessary to reduce depression of patients with cancer. Since depression may reduce quality of life and reaction to treatment, curing depression may relatively reduce side effects of disease for patients to have less pain and problems.