The risk of being depressed is significantly higher in cancer patients than in the general population: Prevalence and severity of depressive symptoms across major cancer types

T J Hartung; E Brähler; H Faller; M Härter; A Hinz; C Johansen; M Keller; U Koch; H Schulz; J Weis; A Mehnert

doi:10.1016/j.ejca.2016.11.017

The risk of being depressed is significantly higher in cancer patients than in the general population: Prevalence and severity of depressive symptoms across major cancer types

T J Hartung, E Brähler, H Faller, M Härter, A Hinz, C Johansen, M Keller, U Koch, H Schulz, J Weis, A Mehnert

Department of Clinical Medicine

90 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Depression is a common co-morbidity of cancer that has a detrimental effect on quality of life, treatment adherence and potentially survival. We conducted an epidemiological multi-center study including a population-based random comparison sample and estimated the prevalence of depressive symptoms by cancer site, thereby identifying cancer patients with the highest prevalence of depression.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included 4020 adult cancer inpatients and outpatients from five distinct regions across Germany in a proportional stratified random sample based on the nationwide cancer incidence and a comparison group consisting of 5018 participants. Both groups reported depressive symptoms by filling in the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). In multivariate analyses adjusted for age and sex, we calculated the odds of being depressed.

RESULTS: Out of 5818 eligible patients, 69% participated (51% women, mean age = 58 years). We estimated that one in four cancer patients (24%) is depressed (PHQ-9 ≥ 10). The odds of being depressed among cancer patients were more than five times higher than in the general population (OR, 5.4; 95% CI, 4.6-6.2). Patients with pancreatic (M = 8.0, SD = 5.0), thyroid (M = 7.8, SD = 6.3) and brain tumours (M = 7.6, SD = 4.9) showed the highest prevalence, whereas patients with prostate cancer (M = 4.3, SD = 3.8) and malignant melanoma (M = 5.3, SD = 4.3) had the lowest levels of depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSION: Our results help clinicians identify cancer patients in need of psychosocial support when navigating in the growing survivor population.

Original language	English
Journal	European Journal of Cancer
Volume	72
Pages (from-to)	46-53
ISSN	0959-8049
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejca.2016.11.017
Publication status	Published - 1 Feb 2017

Keywords

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Depressive Disorder/epidemiology
Female
Germany/epidemiology
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Multivariate Analysis
Neoplasms/psychology
Prevalence
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Young Adult

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.ejca.2016.11.017

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Hartung, T. J., Brähler, E., Faller, H., Härter, M., Hinz, A., Johansen, C., Keller, M., Koch, U., Schulz, H., Weis, J., & Mehnert, A. (2017). The risk of being depressed is significantly higher in cancer patients than in the general population: Prevalence and severity of depressive symptoms across major cancer types. European Journal of Cancer, 72, 46-53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejca.2016.11.017

The risk of being depressed is significantly higher in cancer patients than in the general population : Prevalence and severity of depressive symptoms across major cancer types. / Hartung, T J; Brähler, E; Faller, H et al.

In: European Journal of Cancer, Vol. 72, 01.02.2017, p. 46-53.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Hartung, TJ, Brähler, E, Faller, H, Härter, M, Hinz, A, Johansen, C, Keller, M, Koch, U, Schulz, H, Weis, J & Mehnert, A 2017, 'The risk of being depressed is significantly higher in cancer patients than in the general population: Prevalence and severity of depressive symptoms across major cancer types', European Journal of Cancer, vol. 72, pp. 46-53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejca.2016.11.017

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title = "The risk of being depressed is significantly higher in cancer patients than in the general population: Prevalence and severity of depressive symptoms across major cancer types",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: Depression is a common co-morbidity of cancer that has a detrimental effect on quality of life, treatment adherence and potentially survival. We conducted an epidemiological multi-center study including a population-based random comparison sample and estimated the prevalence of depressive symptoms by cancer site, thereby identifying cancer patients with the highest prevalence of depression.PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included 4020 adult cancer inpatients and outpatients from five distinct regions across Germany in a proportional stratified random sample based on the nationwide cancer incidence and a comparison group consisting of 5018 participants. Both groups reported depressive symptoms by filling in the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). In multivariate analyses adjusted for age and sex, we calculated the odds of being depressed.RESULTS: Out of 5818 eligible patients, 69% participated (51% women, mean age = 58 years). We estimated that one in four cancer patients (24%) is depressed (PHQ-9 ≥ 10). The odds of being depressed among cancer patients were more than five times higher than in the general population (OR, 5.4; 95% CI, 4.6-6.2). Patients with pancreatic (M = 8.0, SD = 5.0), thyroid (M = 7.8, SD = 6.3) and brain tumours (M = 7.6, SD = 4.9) showed the highest prevalence, whereas patients with prostate cancer (M = 4.3, SD = 3.8) and malignant melanoma (M = 5.3, SD = 4.3) had the lowest levels of depressive symptoms.CONCLUSION: Our results help clinicians identify cancer patients in need of psychosocial support when navigating in the growing survivor population.",

keywords = "Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Depressive Disorder/epidemiology, Female, Germany/epidemiology, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Multivariate Analysis, Neoplasms/psychology, Prevalence, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Young Adult",

author = "Hartung, {T J} and E Br{\"a}hler and H Faller and M H{\"a}rter and A Hinz and C Johansen and M Keller and U Koch and H Schulz and J Weis and A Mehnert",

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doi = "10.1016/j.ejca.2016.11.017",

language = "English",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - The risk of being depressed is significantly higher in cancer patients than in the general population

T2 - Prevalence and severity of depressive symptoms across major cancer types

AU - Hartung, T J

AU - Brähler, E

AU - Faller, H

AU - Härter, M

AU - Hinz, A

AU - Johansen, C

AU - Keller, M

AU - Koch, U

AU - Schulz, H

AU - Weis, J

AU - Mehnert, A

PY - 2017/2/1

Y1 - 2017/2/1

N2 - BACKGROUND: Depression is a common co-morbidity of cancer that has a detrimental effect on quality of life, treatment adherence and potentially survival. We conducted an epidemiological multi-center study including a population-based random comparison sample and estimated the prevalence of depressive symptoms by cancer site, thereby identifying cancer patients with the highest prevalence of depression.PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included 4020 adult cancer inpatients and outpatients from five distinct regions across Germany in a proportional stratified random sample based on the nationwide cancer incidence and a comparison group consisting of 5018 participants. Both groups reported depressive symptoms by filling in the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). In multivariate analyses adjusted for age and sex, we calculated the odds of being depressed.RESULTS: Out of 5818 eligible patients, 69% participated (51% women, mean age = 58 years). We estimated that one in four cancer patients (24%) is depressed (PHQ-9 ≥ 10). The odds of being depressed among cancer patients were more than five times higher than in the general population (OR, 5.4; 95% CI, 4.6-6.2). Patients with pancreatic (M = 8.0, SD = 5.0), thyroid (M = 7.8, SD = 6.3) and brain tumours (M = 7.6, SD = 4.9) showed the highest prevalence, whereas patients with prostate cancer (M = 4.3, SD = 3.8) and malignant melanoma (M = 5.3, SD = 4.3) had the lowest levels of depressive symptoms.CONCLUSION: Our results help clinicians identify cancer patients in need of psychosocial support when navigating in the growing survivor population.

AB - BACKGROUND: Depression is a common co-morbidity of cancer that has a detrimental effect on quality of life, treatment adherence and potentially survival. We conducted an epidemiological multi-center study including a population-based random comparison sample and estimated the prevalence of depressive symptoms by cancer site, thereby identifying cancer patients with the highest prevalence of depression.PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included 4020 adult cancer inpatients and outpatients from five distinct regions across Germany in a proportional stratified random sample based on the nationwide cancer incidence and a comparison group consisting of 5018 participants. Both groups reported depressive symptoms by filling in the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). In multivariate analyses adjusted for age and sex, we calculated the odds of being depressed.RESULTS: Out of 5818 eligible patients, 69% participated (51% women, mean age = 58 years). We estimated that one in four cancer patients (24%) is depressed (PHQ-9 ≥ 10). The odds of being depressed among cancer patients were more than five times higher than in the general population (OR, 5.4; 95% CI, 4.6-6.2). Patients with pancreatic (M = 8.0, SD = 5.0), thyroid (M = 7.8, SD = 6.3) and brain tumours (M = 7.6, SD = 4.9) showed the highest prevalence, whereas patients with prostate cancer (M = 4.3, SD = 3.8) and malignant melanoma (M = 5.3, SD = 4.3) had the lowest levels of depressive symptoms.CONCLUSION: Our results help clinicians identify cancer patients in need of psychosocial support when navigating in the growing survivor population.

KW - Adolescent

KW - Adult

KW - Aged

KW - Depressive Disorder/epidemiology

KW - Female

KW - Germany/epidemiology

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Multivariate Analysis

KW - Neoplasms/psychology

KW - Prevalence

KW - Psychiatric Status Rating Scales

KW - Young Adult

U2 - 10.1016/j.ejca.2016.11.017

DO - 10.1016/j.ejca.2016.11.017

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 28024266

SN - 0959-8049

VL - 72

SP - 46

EP - 53

JO - European Journal of Cancer, Supplement

JF - European Journal of Cancer, Supplement

ER -

The risk of being depressed is significantly higher in cancer patients than in the general population: Prevalence and severity of depressive symptoms across major cancer types

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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