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Depression and anxiety in long-term survivors 5 and 10 years after cancer diagnosis

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Abstract

Purpose

Our study provides data on depression and anxiety in long-term cancer survivors, in men, women and various age groups, as well as identifies associated factors and coping-related resources.

Methods

We present data obtained from 1002 cancer survivors across a large variety of tumour entities 5 years (cohort 1) and 10 years (cohort 2) after diagnosis, in a cross-sectional study. We analysed depression (PHQ-9) and anxiety (GAD-7) symptomatology in comparison with two large age- and sex-matched samples randomly selected from the general population.

Results

Moderate to severe depression and anxiety were reported in 17% and 9% of cancer survivors, respectively. There were no significant differences between the 5 years and 10 years after diagnosis cohorts (p = 0.232). In both cohorts, we found higher depression and anxiety in women than in men (p < 0.001), and lower depression and anxiety in elderly patients (p < 0.001). Cancer survivors younger than 60 years of age were more depressed and anxious than the general population (p < 0.001). The variables, financial problems (Beta = 0.16, p < 0.001), global quality of life (Beta = − 0.21, p < 0.001) and cognitive function (Beta = − 0.30, p < 0.001), had the strongest association with depression and anxiety.

Conclusions

For the prevention of depression and anxiety in long-term cancer survivors, individual treatment of physical and psychological symptoms is as important as social support and professional counselling. Post-treatment, cognitive limitations should be carefully assessed in long-term cancer survivorship to distinguish them from symptoms of a mental disorder, especially since younger cancer survivors of working age and female survivors seem to be more affected by depression and anxiety.

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Funding

This study was supported by the Swiss Bridge Foundation (Swiss Bridge Award 2013).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Strasse 55, 04103, Leipzig, Germany

    Heide Götze, Michael Friedrich & Anja Mehnert

  2. Clinical Cancer Registry Leipzig, University Medical Center Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany

    Sabine Taubenheim

  3. Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany

    Andreas Dietz

  4. University Cancer Center Leipzig (UCCL), University Medical Center Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany

    Florian Lordick

Authors
  1. Heide Götze
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  2. Michael Friedrich
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  3. Sabine Taubenheim
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Correspondence to Heide Götze.

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The funding source was not involved in any stage of the research process. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration, and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Götze, H., Friedrich, M., Taubenheim, S. et al. Depression and anxiety in long-term survivors 5 and 10 years after cancer diagnosis. Support Care Cancer 28, 211–220 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-019-04805-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-019-04805-1

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