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Psychological distress and physical symptoms in advanced cancer: cross-sectional study
  1. Bridget Podbury1,
  2. Taylan Gurgenci2,
  3. Georgie Huggett3,
  4. Ristan Greer4,
  5. Janet Hardy5 and
  6. Phillip Good5,6
  1. 1Palliative Care, Mater Hospital Brisbane, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
  2. 2School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Saint Lucia, Queensland, Australia
  3. 3Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
  4. 4UQ, Saint Lucia, Queensland, Australia
  5. 5Supportive and Palliative Care, Mater Health Services, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
  6. 6Department of Palliative Care, St Vincent's Private Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
  1. Correspondence to Dr Bridget Podbury, Palliative Care, Mater Hospital Brisbane, Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia; bridget.podbury{at}health.qld.gov.au

Abstract

Objectives Patients with advanced cancer experience varying physical and psychological symptoms throughout the course of their illness. Depression, anxiety and stress affect overall well-being. This study investigates the correlation between emotional distress and physical symptoms in a cohort of patients with advanced cancer.

Methods There were 238 patients included in this study. Data from participants in two medicinal cannabis randomised controlled trials were analysed. Patients were aged over 18 years and had advanced cancer. Edmonton Symptom Assessment System, and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) were assessed for all patients at baseline.

Results Moderate-severe depression was reported in 29.8% and moderate-severe anxiety was reported in 47.9% of patients. The emotional subscales of DASS-21 (depression, anxiety, stress) correlated with total symptom distress score (p<0.001) and overall well-being (p<0.001). Depression was correlated with physical symptoms of fatigue, nausea, poor appetite and dyspnoea. Anxiety was correlated with fatigue and dyspnoea. Stress was correlated with fatigue, nausea and dyspnoea.

Conclusions Depression, anxiety and stress were common in this population. The relationship between physical and psychological well-being is complex. A holistic approach to symptom management is required to improve quality of life in patients with advanced cancer.

  • Supportive care
  • Quality of life
  • Psychological care
  • Palliative Care
  • Clinical assessment

https://doi.org/10.1136/spcare-2024-004940

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors BP—conceptualisation, collection and assembly of data, data analysis and interpretation, original draft preparation, reviewing and editing. TG—collection and assembly of data, data analysis and interpretation, reviewing and editing. GH—administrative support, collection and assembly of data, reviewing and editing. RG—data analysis and interpretation. JH—supervision, collection and assembly of data, data analysis and interpretation, reviewing and editing. PG—supervision, collection and assembly of data, data analysis and interpretation, reviewing and editing.

    • Funding Supported by the Commonwealth of Australia—Medical Research Future Fund (grant no APP1152232—commencing June 2018).

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; internally peer reviewed.