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Depression among elderly cancer patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 March 2020

L. Ghanmi ,
S. Aloulou ,
A. Mechri ,
K. Zitoun ,
A. Ben Hmida ,
L. Zouari  and
M. Maalej
L. Ghanmi
Affiliation:
Regional hospital of Gabes, Psychiatry, Gabes, Tunisia
S. Aloulou
Affiliation:
Regional hospital of Gabes, Oncology and palliative care unit, Gabes, Tunisia
A. Mechri
Affiliation:
University Hospital Fattouma Bourguiba–Monastir- Tunisia, Psychiatry, Monastir, Tunisia
K. Zitoun
Affiliation:
Regional hospital of Gabes, Psychiatry, Gabes, Tunisia
A. Ben Hmida
Affiliation:
Regional hospital of Gabes, Oncology and palliative care unit, Gabes, Tunisia
L. Zouari
Affiliation:
University Hospital Hedi Chaker- Sfax- Tunisia, Psychiatry “C”, Monastir, Tunisia
M. Maalej
Affiliation:
University Hospital Hedi Chaker- Sfax- Tunisia, Psychiatry “C”, Monastir, Tunisia

Abstract

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Introduction

Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses in the elderly and its consequences are severe.

Aims

To measure the prevalence of depression in elderly cancer patients and subsequently determine the sociodemographic and clinical factors correlated with this disorder.

Methods

We conducted a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study of patients aged over than 65 years old, suffering from cancer and who had no cognitive impairment, admitted in 2013 in the Oncology and palliative care unit of Gabes regional Hospital (Tunisia). We used a self-rating questionnaire to detect sociodemographics and clinical variables, the Geriatric depression scale (GDS) to assess depressive symptoms, and the Activity of Daily Living to determine the degree of autonomy.

Results

At the end of our investigation, we included 60 patients. The prevalence of depression was 48%. Depression was significantly correlated with: marital status (widower subjects were more depressed (74% vs. 34%, P = 0.007)), less degree of autonomy (80% vs. 38%, P = 0.04), fatigue (62% vs. 26%, P = 0.007), pain (59% vs. 26%, P = 0.02), family psychiatric history (80% vs. 20%, P = 0.02), family history of death by cancer (72% vs. 38%, P = 0.01), WHO condition (67% vs. 34%, P = 0.04) and the presence of co morbidity in particularly diabetes (69% vs. 41%, P = 0.05).

Conclusion

Depression is prevalent in oncogeriatric environments. This could compromise quality of support and care of these patients. Close collaboration between oncologist and psychiatrist is needed to support and relieve these patients.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Type
e-Poster viewing: Cultural psychiatry
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 41 , Issue S1: Abstract of the 25th European Congress of Psychiatry , April 2017 , pp. S528
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 2017
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