Depression and Pain in Patients with Cancer: A Preliminary Study

Yang, Mun Jung; Jeon, Yang Whan; Han, Sang Ick; Han, Chi Wha; Eom, Hyeon Seok

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to evaluate how much depression and pain symptoms could be shown, what kind of factors affect them, and whether the correlation between them could be or not in patients with cancer.
METHODS
The subjects were composed of 25 patients with cancer who admitted at the department of oncology (male: 10, female: 15). We reviewed the medical record and interviewed patients and their family. A psychiatric diagnosis was made according to the criteria of the DSM-IV, and depressive symptoms were evaluated by Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD). The intensity of pain (maximal, minimal, mean, present), disability due to pain, the effects of analgesics were measured by Brief Pain Inventory (BPI).
RESULTS
32% of patients had major depressive disorders, 16% of patients had depressive disorders, NOS and 16% of the patients had adjustment disorders. The score of HRSD was significantly correlated with the maximal intensity, mean intensity and present intensity of pain and disability due to pain, but not with minimal intensity and the effects of analgesics. Depression and pain were not correlated with duration of illness. Scores of depression and pain did not differ in sex, religion, metastasis, and the knowledge of illness. The widowed or unmarried patients showed significantly higher scores than patients living with the spouse in HRSD, minimal intensity and mean intensity of pain.
CONCLUSION
In patients with cancer, depression and pain were highly prevalant. The relationship between depression and pain was shown in patients with cancer. These results suggest that more active evaluation and intervention of depression and pain should be carried out in patients with cancer.