Progress in researches on mental health screening instruments for cancer patients

Abstract

The timely and accurate screening and evaluation of the mental health status of cancer patients is a key step in the improvement of psychological rehabilitation and overall quality of life of cancer patients. Mental health screening and instruments have been widely used in many groups. This paper summarizes different scales to provide references for cancer rehabilitation and promotion of cancer patients′ mental health. The scales are divided into four categories: emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The distress thermometer and the general health questionnaire are widely used in the screening for emotional distress problems. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale Anxiety Scale and the Baker Anxiety Scale are good tools for screening anxiety problems. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale Depression subscale, the Patient Health Questionnaire – 9, and the Center for Epidemiological Studies – Depression Scale are used to screen depression. The scales are often used as a preferred tools for screening related problems because of good sensitivity, specificity, and high positive predictive value and negative predictive value. The commonly used scale for screening post-traumatic stress disorder is the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Scale – Civil Version.