Dionisi-Vici M, Fantoni M, Botto R, Nervo A, Felicetti F, Rossetto R, Gallo M, Arvat E, Torta R, Leombruni P. Distress, anxiety, depression and unmet needs in thyroid cancer survivors: a longitudinal study.
Endocrine 2021;
74:603-610. [PMID:
34143334 PMCID:
PMC8571224 DOI:
10.1007/s12020-021-02786-y]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE
Despite a good prognosis, thyroid cancer (TC) survivors often report psychological distress and decreased quality of life. This longitudinal study aims to evaluate TC survivors' levels of distress, anxiety, depression and unmet needs, checking potential life events.
METHODS
Distress Thermometer, Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale, Supportive Care Need Survey (short form) and Interview for Recent Life Events were administered to 73 TC survivors (T0) and 44 of them were re-tested one year later (T1). Participants were at 0-5, 5-10 or >10 years from the end of their cancer-related treatments.
RESULTS
At T0, distress, anxiety and depression mean scores were 6.4, 6.8 and 5.3, while at T1 they were 5.5, 4.8 and 5.1. Only anxiety scores decreased significantly between T0 and T1. 50.7% of patients had unmet psychological needs at T0 and 50.0% at T1. Most participants were satisfied in the communicative/ informative (T0:79.5%; T1: 77.3%) and social/health care areas (T0:74.0%; T1:75.0%). The most experienced stressful events detected concerned their working areas.
CONCLUSIONS
Results confirmed that patients reported distress, anxiety and depression concerns even many years after the end of treatments. Both medical and psychological surveillance are relevant to improving TC survivors' wellbeing.
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