Depression and anxiety in women with breast cancer in Erbil city: a case-control study

Kameran H. Ismail; Diyar H. Tahir; Baran K. Barzinji

doi:10.15218/zjms.2012.0011

Authors

Kameran H. Ismail Department of Medicine, Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Iraq.
Diyar H. Tahir Department of psychiatry, College of Medicine, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Iraq.
Baran K. Barzinji Department of Medicine, Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Iraq.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15218/zjms.2012.0011

Keywords:

Breast cancer, depression, anxiety

Abstract

Background and objectives: Breast cancer has specific challenges for women. This study was carried out to identify the frequency of depression and anxiety in women with breast cancer..
Methods: A hospital based case-control study was carried out in Erbil city from August, 15th to November, 1st 2010. The convenient sample included 100 cases of diagnosed breast cancer for the last three years attending Maternity and Nanakali hospitals and two hundred age-matched (± 5 years) non-cancer women attending the Maternity hospital for gynaecological conditions were taken as a control group.
Results: The mean ± SD ages of cases and controls were 45.51 ± 8.87.4 and 44.57 ± 8.59 years, respectively (P=0.378). The proportion of depression among cases (69%) was higher than that among controls (17.5%) (P<0.001), and the proportion of anxiety among cases (56%) was higher than that among controls (16%) (P<0.001). Multiple logistic re-gression analysis of risk factors for depression revealed that breast cancer (OR=10.531), owned home (OR=0.463), and years of formal education (OR=0.917) have a statistically significant association with depression. While breast cancer (OR=8.735) and parity (OR=1.167) have a statistically significant association with anxiety and borderline anxiety.
Conclusion: Increased levels of depression and anxiety after a diagnosis of breast cancer highlight the need for dedicated psychiatric service provision.

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