The physical and psychological symptoms experienced by patients with metastatic breast cancer before death.

The present study explores the levels of anxiety and depression experienced by a sample of 44 patients with metastatic breast cancer 1-7 weeks before their death. In addition, relationships were examined between symptomatology (measured by the Rotterdam Symptom Checklist) and anxiety and depression (measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale). Results suggested that a high proportion of patients scored in the case range for anxiety (66%) and depression (50%) using the cut-off scores suggested by the authors. Weak positive correlations between physical symptomatology and anxiety and depression were ascertained using scores from the Rotterdam Symptom Checklist and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. The results of the present study are discussed in the context of previous research findings and further research avenues are highlighted.