Personality disorders, but not cancer severity or treatment type, are risk factors for later generalised anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder in non metastatic breast cancer patients

Abstract

This study aimed to determine whether personality disorders were associated with later Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) or Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) in breast cancer patients. This longitudinal and multicentric study included 120 French non-metastatic breast cancer patients. After cancer diagnosis (T1) and 7 months after diagnosis (T3), we assessed MDD and GAD (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview 5.0). We assessed personality disorders 3 months after diagnosis (VKP). We used multiple logistic regression analysis to determine what were the factors associated with GAD and MDD at T3. At T3, prevalence rate was 10.8% for MDD and 19.2% for GAD. GAD at T3 was significantly and independently associated with GAD at T1 and with existence of a personality disorder, no matter the cluster type. MDD at T3 was significantly and independently associated with MDD at T1 and with the existence of a cluster C personality disorder. Initial cancer severity and the type of treatment used were not associated with GAD or MDD at T3. Breast cancer patients with personality disorders are at higher risk for GAD and MDD at the end of treatment. Patients with GAD should be screened for personality disorders. Specific interventions for patients with personality disorders could prevent psychiatric disorders.

Impact of Personality Traits, Anxiety, Depression and Hopelessness Levels on Quality of Life in the Patients with Breast Cancer

“…Emotional and total scores of the quality of life were found to be lowered by personality disorder, depressive disorder, having weaker coping mechanisms, and keeping self-accusatory personality traits in the forefront (38). The patients with breast cancer indicating the signs of personality disorders were found to be under a higher risk of having post-treatment generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder (39). Moreover, a weak correlation was detected between the power of scale scores indicative of absence of affective behaviors or lack of confidence in subjective sensations and development of breast cancer (40).…”

Concomitant psychiatric symptoms and impaired quality of life in women with cervical cancer: a critical review

“… 8 – 11 Indeed, studies have postulated that women with breast cancer may have an increased risk of depression. 12 – 14 The therapeutic approach to breast cancer is based on a large body of evidence, 15 – 18 and there is increasing interest but still very limited data regarding attending psychiatric diseases in female patients with gynecologic, genital, and cervical cancer. 19 – 21 Patients suffering from different types of gynecologic cancer (genital/cervical cancer) may also have an increased risk of developing an attending psychiatric disease, but little is known about attending psychiatric disorders in patients with cancers other than breast cancer, such as gynecologic cancer.…”

Personality (at Intrapsychic and Interpersonal Level) Associated With Quality of Life in Patients With Cancer (Lung and Colon)

“…Moreover, some studies showed that in patients with cancer, low capacity for self-esteem and self-criticism are related to low acceptance of the disease and may result in anxiety. 26,43…”