Purpose: we investigated the anxiety and depression rates in breast cancer patients (BCPs) and compared their rates with a group of unemployed women attending courses at a local government agency to increase their chances for employment.
Methods: a total 129 BCPs were included [60 were treated and followed up in Marmara University Hospital (PHG), 69 were from a private oncology clinic (POG)] and 101 healthy people (control group; CG) came from a course for the unemployed. All participants completed the Turkish-language version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.
Results: The mean ages of the BCPs and CG were 52.7 ± 13.1 and 38.9 ± 11.9 years, respectively (p=0.001). Compared to the CG, the percentage of housewives was significantly higher in the BCP group (p=0.04). These 2 factors (age and profession) were not independent factors predicting anxiety or depression (p>0.05). The rates of anxiety and depression were 27.9 and 35.7% for BCP, 28.7 and 34.7% for CG, 33.3 and 51.7% for PHG, and 23.2 and 21.7% for POG, respectively. The difference of the rates of depression between the POG and the PHG was significant (p=0.0001).
Conclusion: the anxiety and depression rates were not higher in BCPs than in the CG who had a risk factor (such as unemployment) for psychosocial ill health. Being treated and/ or followed up in a private office was related to lower depression rates.