Vanessa L Beesley1, Maria Celia B Hughes2, B Mark Smithers3, Kiarash Khosrotehrani4, Maryrose K Malt2, Lena A von Schuckmann2, Adèle C Green2,5. 1. Population Health Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. Vanessa.Beesley@qimrberghofer.edu.au. 2. Population Health Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. 3. Queensland Melanoma Project, Discipline of Surgery, The University of Queensland, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. 4. The University of Queensland, UQ Centre for Clinical Research & The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Experimental Dermatology Group, QLD, Brisbane, Australia. 5. Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, and School of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To quantify the prevalence of anxiety or depression (overall; melanoma-related) among people with high-risk primary melanoma, their related use of mental health services and medications, and factors associated with persistent new-onset symptoms across 4 years post-diagnosis. METHODS: A longitudinal study of 675 patients newly diagnosed with tumor-stage 1b-4b melanoma. Participants completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and answered questions about fear of cancer recurrence, use of medication, and support, serially over 4 years. We identified anxiety and depression trajectories with group-based trajectories models and factors associated with persistent symptoms with logistic regression. RESULTS: At diagnosis, 93 participants (14%) had melanoma-related anxiety or depression, and 136 (20%) were affected by anxiety and/or depression unrelated to melanoma. After 6 months, no more than 27 (5%) reported melanoma-related anxiety or depression at any time, while the point prevalence of anxiety and depression unrelated to melanoma was unchanged (16-21%) among the disease-free. Of 272 participants reporting clinical symptoms of any cause, 34% were taking medication and/or seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist. Of the participants, 11% (n = 59) had new-onset symptoms that persisted; these participants were more likely aged < 70. CONCLUSIONS: Melanoma-related anxiety or depression quickly resolves in high-risk primary melanoma patients after melanoma excision, while prevalence of anxiety or depression from other sources remains constant among the disease-free. However, one-in-ten develop new anxiety or depression symptoms (one-in-twenty melanoma-related) that persist. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Chronic stress has been linked to melanoma progression. Survivors with anxiety and depression should be treated early to improve patient and, potentially, disease outcomes.
PURPOSE: To quantify the prevalence of anxiety or depression (overall; melanoma-related) among people with high-risk primary melanoma, their related use of mental health services and medications, and factors associated with persistent new-onset symptoms across 4 years post-diagnosis. METHODS: A longitudinal study of 675 patients newly diagnosed with tumor-stage 1b-4b melanoma. Participants completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and answered questions about fear of cancer recurrence, use of medication, and support, serially over 4 years. We identified anxiety and depression trajectories with group-based trajectories models and factors associated with persistent symptoms with logistic regression. RESULTS: At diagnosis, 93 participants (14%) had melanoma-related anxiety or depression, and 136 (20%) were affected by anxiety and/or depression unrelated to melanoma. After 6 months, no more than 27 (5%) reported melanoma-related anxiety or depression at any time, while the point prevalence of anxiety and depression unrelated to melanoma was unchanged (16-21%) among the disease-free. Of 272 participants reporting clinical symptoms of any cause, 34% were taking medication and/or seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist. Of the participants, 11% (n = 59) had new-onset symptoms that persisted; these participants were more likely aged < 70. CONCLUSIONS:Melanoma-related anxiety or depression quickly resolves in high-risk primary melanomapatients after melanoma excision, while prevalence of anxiety or depression from other sources remains constant among the disease-free. However, one-in-ten develop new anxiety or depression symptoms (one-in-twenty melanoma-related) that persist. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Chronic stress has been linked to melanoma progression. Survivors with anxiety and depression should be treated early to improve patient and, potentially, disease outcomes.
Entities:
Keywords:
Anxiety; Depression; Distress; Fear of recurrence; Melanoma
Authors: Jyoti Chauhan; Sathyaraj Aasaithambi; Iván Márquez-Rodas; Luigi Formisano; Sophie Papa; Nicolas Meyer; Andrea Forschner; Guy Faust; Mike Lau; Alexandros Sagkriotis Journal: JMIR Cancer Date: 2022-06-13