فراواني افسردگي در بيماران مبتلا به سرطان پستان مراجعه كننده به مراكز شيمي درماني مراكز آموزشي درماني كرمانشاه (87-1386)

The frequency of depression among patients with breast cancer in Kermaneshah U.M.S chemotherapy centers in 2007

Background: Nowadays Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancers among women along with high mortality and morbidity rates. The illness psychologically has negative effects on these patients. The prevalence of this illness has been increasing through out the world including Iran. Lack of adjustment with the illness can have an adverse impact on patientsʹ individual relationships, clinical treatment procedures and prognoses. Depression is considered as a major symptom of unadjusted psychological behaviors of patients with breast cancer. Having considered the role of woman in the society and family institution as a mother and/or a wife, this illness can be devastating which gives rise to instability of the family foundation, causes severe irremediable damages to other family members, and imposes considerable impacts revenues of government annual financial budgets. Therefore, identifying depression and its susceptible components can be of a great help curing the illness and promoting coping strategies against it in these patients. Methods: In this study 78 patients with no other prehistorically chronic diseases and/or psychiatric disorders were selected. They were given a questionnaire consisting of demographic information and Zung Self-Rating Depression scale. Results: By using SPSS the frequency distribution of depression was measured and depicted in bidementional tables. Results showed 42.3 percent of the patients suffered from depression. Conclusion: The findings indicate high prevalence of depression among the patients with breast cancer, and have implications for referring them to a mental health center as soon as the illness being diagnosed. A psychotherapeutic plan not only can help these patients to promote the quality of their lives but also to execute mental health programs. It is important to propose that a systematic treatment plan is required for this illness that accompanies with a psychotherapeutic plan . Keywords: Breast Cancer, Depression, Mastectomy