Article Text
Abstract
Introduction/Background Depression after gynaecological cancers (GCa) surgery remains poorly recognised and inadequately treated. They are lacking sufficient specialist resources to support affected patients.
We aimed to describe the prevalence, severity and nature of depression in a sample of GCa Tunisian survivors five years after diagnosis and treatment.
Methodology Prospective, descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out over 2 months, from 1st of August 2023 to 30th of September 2023. This study included tunisian women who underwent a surgery for GCa in the gynaecology and obstetrics department B- Charles Nicolle Hospital-Tunis- Tunisia. Patients who received their diagnosis five years previously completed the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) and a background questionnaire. The state of knowledge about the mental health of GCa survivors was furthered and the prevalence of four depression subtypes was investigated in addition to a unitary measure of major depression.
Results We included 73 patients 5 years after their treatment. The mean age was 64 years.
Mean SDS score was 37.33. Prevalence rates for clinically significant depression (6.1%) and severe depression were higher than those reported for the non-GCa women of the same age in Tunisia.
Self-Rating Depression items were classified into the four depressive subtypes of Depressed mood, Anhedonia, Somatic depression and Cognitive depression. The most common subtype of depression was Anhedonia, followed by Cognitive depression.
Reductions in sexual activity and enjoyment were the most powerful depression symptoms predicting Anhedonia, followed by eating habit changes.
Conclusion After GCa surgery, patients are in need of further support and rehabilitation focusing on loss of previously available sources of enjoyment.
Disclosures None of the authors has any conflict of interest to declare.