EHA Library - The official digital education library of European Hematology Association (EHA)

ARE WE AWARE OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION IN PATIENTS WITH NEWLY DIAGNOSED ACUTE LEUKEMIA?
Author(s):
Mehmet Hilmi Dogu
,
Mehmet Hilmi Dogu
Affiliations:
Hematology,Istanbul Education Research Hospital,Istanbul,Turkey
Rafet Eren
,
Rafet Eren
Affiliations:
Hematology,Istanbul Education Research Hospital,Istanbul,Turkey
Nihan Nizam
,
Nihan Nizam
Affiliations:
Internal Medicine,Istanbul Education Research Hospital,Istanbul,Turkey
Osman Yokus
,
Osman Yokus
Affiliations:
Hematology,Istanbul Education Research Hospital,Istanbul,Turkey
Elif Suyani
Elif Suyani
Affiliations:
Hematology,Istanbul Education Research Hospital,Istanbul,Turkey
(Abstract release date: 05/18/17) EHA Library. Dogu M. 05/18/17; 182850; PB2137
Mehmet Hilmi Dogu
Mehmet Hilmi Dogu
Contributions
PDF Abstract
Abstract

Abstract: PB2137

Type: Publication Only

Background
Acute leukemia poses a high risk of stress for the patient during the process of diagnosis. The process after the diagnosis is challenging for the patient due to urgent admission, long duration of stay in hospital, chemotherapeutic agents used in the treatment and the disease itself. Evaluating this group of patients for anxiety and depression, providing necessary professional support and revising medical treatment is therefore substantial.

Aims
In our study, we aimed to assess the risks of anxiety and depression in newly diagnosed acute leukemia patients who were admitted to hematology clinic to receive chemotherapy and provide necessary professional support along with treatment revisions and follow-up according to our findings.

Methods

Our study was performed with newly diagnosed acute leukemia patients, who were admitted to our hospital hematology clinic in a six-month period to receive chemotherapy. Demographic characteristics were noted and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADs) was used to assess depression.
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADs) is an assessment scale developed by Zigmond and Snaith to determine the risks and assess the severity of anxiety and depression (8). The validation and reliability studies of the scale in Turkey were carried out by Aydemir et al (9). The questionnaire has a total of 14 items; seven of which measure anxiety (odd numbers) and the remaining seven (even numbers) measure depression. Each item is scored from 0 to 3. The scoring order of each item in the questionnaire is different. Items numbered 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11 and 13 indicate decreasing severity and are scored as 3-2-1-0. On the other hand; items numbered 2, 4, 7, 9, 12 and 14 indicate increasing severity and are scored as 0-1-2-3. The cut-off value for the total score of the odd-numbered questions assessing anxiety is 10; while it is 7 for the even-numbered questions assessing depression.

Results
21 patients were included in the study. 13 of these patients (61.9%) were diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and 8 (38.1%) were diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Median age of the patients was 45 (range: 21-69). 11 patients (52.4%) were female and 10 (47.6%) were male. 5 patients (23.8%) had comorbidities while 16 (76.2%) had none.

Anxiety evaluation revealed that 38.1% of all patients in the study experienced anxiety. The rate of anxiety was 38.5% in AML patients and similarly 37.5% in ALL patients. 45.5% of the female patients had anxiety while the rate was only 30% in male patients. The difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Depression evaluation revealed that 81% of all patients in the study. The rate of depression was 84.6% in AML patients and 75% in ALL patients. 81.8% of the female patients had depression while it was 80% in male patients. Neither anxiety nor depression had a significant correlation with comorbidities or gender (p > 0.05). Correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between anxiety and depression (r = 0.846; p < 0.01).

Conclusion

In conclusion, assessing anxiety and depression in patients with acute leukemia at the time of hospital admission is substantial for the course of and adherence to treatment. In our study, depression was distinctively more common than anxiety and there was a positive correlation between depression and anxiety. We think that including a professional for psychological support in the medical team is important for the treatment of these patients.

Session topic: 35. Quality of life, palliative care, ethics and health economics

Keyword(s): Depression, acute leukemia

Abstract: PB2137

Type: Publication Only

Background
Acute leukemia poses a high risk of stress for the patient during the process of diagnosis. The process after the diagnosis is challenging for the patient due to urgent admission, long duration of stay in hospital, chemotherapeutic agents used in the treatment and the disease itself. Evaluating this group of patients for anxiety and depression, providing necessary professional support and revising medical treatment is therefore substantial.

Aims
In our study, we aimed to assess the risks of anxiety and depression in newly diagnosed acute leukemia patients who were admitted to hematology clinic to receive chemotherapy and provide necessary professional support along with treatment revisions and follow-up according to our findings.

Methods

Our study was performed with newly diagnosed acute leukemia patients, who were admitted to our hospital hematology clinic in a six-month period to receive chemotherapy. Demographic characteristics were noted and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADs) was used to assess depression.
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADs) is an assessment scale developed by Zigmond and Snaith to determine the risks and assess the severity of anxiety and depression (8). The validation and reliability studies of the scale in Turkey were carried out by Aydemir et al (9). The questionnaire has a total of 14 items; seven of which measure anxiety (odd numbers) and the remaining seven (even numbers) measure depression. Each item is scored from 0 to 3. The scoring order of each item in the questionnaire is different. Items numbered 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11 and 13 indicate decreasing severity and are scored as 3-2-1-0. On the other hand; items numbered 2, 4, 7, 9, 12 and 14 indicate increasing severity and are scored as 0-1-2-3. The cut-off value for the total score of the odd-numbered questions assessing anxiety is 10; while it is 7 for the even-numbered questions assessing depression.

Results
21 patients were included in the study. 13 of these patients (61.9%) were diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and 8 (38.1%) were diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Median age of the patients was 45 (range: 21-69). 11 patients (52.4%) were female and 10 (47.6%) were male. 5 patients (23.8%) had comorbidities while 16 (76.2%) had none.

Anxiety evaluation revealed that 38.1% of all patients in the study experienced anxiety. The rate of anxiety was 38.5% in AML patients and similarly 37.5% in ALL patients. 45.5% of the female patients had anxiety while the rate was only 30% in male patients. The difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Depression evaluation revealed that 81% of all patients in the study. The rate of depression was 84.6% in AML patients and 75% in ALL patients. 81.8% of the female patients had depression while it was 80% in male patients. Neither anxiety nor depression had a significant correlation with comorbidities or gender (p > 0.05). Correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between anxiety and depression (r = 0.846; p < 0.01).

Conclusion

In conclusion, assessing anxiety and depression in patients with acute leukemia at the time of hospital admission is substantial for the course of and adherence to treatment. In our study, depression was distinctively more common than anxiety and there was a positive correlation between depression and anxiety. We think that including a professional for psychological support in the medical team is important for the treatment of these patients.

Session topic: 35. Quality of life, palliative care, ethics and health economics

Keyword(s): Depression, acute leukemia

Premium Sponsors

What's new at EHA

Browse the open-source material from EHA past Congresses and meetings.

References

EHA Terms & Conditions
2025 ©
European Hematology Association
USER TERMS AND CONDITIONS / PRIVACY POLICY
(Amended according to GDPR)

By clicking “Accept Terms & all Cookies” or by continuing to browse, you agree to the storing of third-party cookies on your device to enhance your user experience and agree to the user terms and conditions of this learning management system (LMS).

Cookie Settings
Accept Terms & all Cookies