The status and correlations of anxiety and depressive disorders in Moroccan patients with breast and gynecological cancer: A crosssectional case-control study

Abstract

Background: In lower middle-income countries, significant progress has been made in the treatment and management of cancers. However, the neuropsychiatric and mood disorders associated with these diseases are generally underestimated by the health system. The aim of this study is to assess both anxiety and depression disorders of Moroccan women with breast cancer and gynecological cancer (N=400) and further identify the predictive factors.
 Methods: Case–control study was conducted with a total sample of 800 individuals. Participants were selected from a regional epidemiological survey. Translated and validated Arabic versions of the following international scales were used: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), Rosenberg's self-esteem scale (RSES), Body image scale (BIS) and Multidimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS). The predictive effect of these psychosocial factors for depression and anxiety was studied with hierarchical linear regressions.
 Results: Patients with breast and or gynecological cancer presented a high level of anxiety and depressive symptoms. Multivariate analysis revealed that breast and or gynecological cancer functions as an independent but not primary predictor of anxiety and depressive symptoms. High levels of anxiety and depression were positively associated with a high level of sleep disturbances and body image disturbances and negatively associated with a higher level of perceived social support and self-esteem.
 Conclusion: Among patients with breast and or gynecological cancer, social support and high self-esteem could help to improve anxiety-depressive symptoms related to this types of cancer.
 Keywords: Anxiety, depression, breast cancer, gynecological cancer, predictors.