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A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY ON DEPRESSION AND PSYCHIATRIC ILLNESS AMONG FEMALE BREAST CANCER PATIENTS

Dr Iqra Qayyum, Dr Rijab Nasir, Dr Ayesha Kanwal

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide and the leading cause of cancer death in women, with roughly 1.4 million new breast cancer cases and 458,000 deaths in 2008. It is considered as a terrifying disease due to a high mortality rate, its impact on self-image and sexual relationship. Aims and objectives: The basic aim of the study is to analyze the depression and psychiatric illness among female breast cancer patients. Material and methods: This study was conducted at Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad during June 2018 to October 2018. The study population included patients aged above 18 years who were diagnosed with breast cancer and are undergoing surgery or chemotherapy or radiotherapy or a combination of therapies. Patients with a family history of mood disorder or other psychiatric disorder were included in this study. Results: A total of 100 female breast cancer patients participated in this study. Their age ranged between 20 and 60 years, with an average of 35 years. Majority (79%) of them were married. About 50% of them were illiterate, whereas 43% were matriculate. All of them were Muslims and of Pathan ethnicity. Depression was higher in the age group 18–40 years and lowest among those above 60 years but the association was not statistically significant. Depression was higher among the low socioeconomic group than those the high or middle socioeconomic group, but the comparison was not statistically significant. Conclusion: It is concluded that depression is quite treatable is a common psychiatric morbidity faced by breast cancer patients.

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