Depression and quality of life during treatment of ocular bulb removal in individuals with uveal melanoma.

The objective of this study is to asses the emotional repercussions in individuals with uveal melanoma referred for surgery, during the diagnosis and preoperative, post-surgery and late post-surgery phases. The clinical qualitative assessment used the Beck Depression Inventory and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey. Twenty patients were individually assessed, 13 men and 7 women, with an average age of 52. Before surgery, patients appeared fragile and impacted by the diagnosis and treatment, showing a minimum to mild state of depression and a quality of life affected by emotional and physical concepts. Three months after surgery, the patients showed a mild to severe state of depression. This depression had an effect on the physical, vitality, emotional, mental health and social life concepts, the emotional concept being the most affected. One year after the surgery, patients presented a minimum state of depression and quality of life had most health concepts in balance. It was concluded that the worst moment for the patient is 3 months after the surgery, when they appear more fragile with difficulties of adaptation, anxiety and depression. One year after the surgery, they appear more structured and with a more balanced quality of life.