Breast cancer diagnosis may lead to stress and depression

AORN Journal,  April, 2007  

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In a study of 236 women newly diagnosed with breast cancer, almost half lie, 47%) were found to have clinically significant emotional distress or symptoms of psychiatric disorders, including major depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to a Nov 28, 2006, news release from Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH. Although emotional distress previously has been identified in up to 33% of breast cancer survivors, Little research has been done on patients who are newly diagnosed with breast cancer.

Investigators found that 41% of the women in the study had moderate to severe emotional distress related to their

* diagnosis of cancer,

* uncertainty about the medical treatment, and

* concern about physical problems related to breast cancer.

Additionally, 21% of the women had psychiatric disorders, including 11% with major depression and 10% with PTSD. The women with psychiatric disorders also showed significant declines in daily functioning. Although more than 50% of the women with depression already were taking psychotropic medication, they continued to experience significant symptoms, suggesting that these women were undertreated even when they were identified as being depressed.

The investigators concluded that the medical community should improve communication about the success of breast cancer treatments for many patients. They also recommended that patients newly diagnosed with breast cancer should be assessed for psychiatric conditions and that patients who are diagnosed with depression or PTSD should be adequately treated for these disorders.

Breast Cancer Diagnosis Often Triggers Distress and Depression [news release]. Hanover, NH: Dartmouth Medical School; November 28, 2006. Available at: http://dms .dartmouth.edu/news/2006_h2/28nov2006_hegel.shtml. Accessed January 5, 2007.

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