A study of depression and anxiety in cancer patients.

The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of depression and anxiety in cancer patients. A cross sectional case control study design was used. Severely or terminally ill cancer patients and patients suffering from other concomitant illnesses were excluded from the study. Depression and anxiety was assessed on 50 cancer patients (cases) and on 50 healthy individuals (controls). The tools used were Structured Proforma (for recording sociodemographic details and relevant medical history), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). A total of 30 (60.0%) were detected as ‘cases’ or having psychiatric morbidity based on a cutoff score of above 2 on 12 item GHQ. Depression was present in 28.0% of cancer patients whereas 40.0% of cancer patients had anxiety as per HADS.