Prevalence of psychological distress among cancer patients in Southeast Asian countries: A systematic review

Abstract

Psychological distress (including depression and anxiety) is common in the first years of cancer diagnosis but can differ by country and region. The aim of the present paper was to review the prevalence of psychological distress among cancer patients in the Southeast Asia (SEA) region. A systematic literature search was carried out using several databases (i.e., PubMed, PsychARTICLES, Embase, CINAHI, Web of Sciences, Plus, Scopus, and AHMED). Papers originally published in English language were taken into consideration if they (i) were published from 2010 to 2021 and (ii) reported the prevalence of psychological distress among patients with different types of cancer. A total of 23 studies met the inclusion criteria. The most frequently employed psychometric instrument for anxiety and depression screening was the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The prevalence of anxiety (ranging from 7% to 88%) was wider than that of depression (ranging from 3% to 65.5%) among patients with different types of cancer and living in various countries in the SEA region. The overall prevalence rate of psychological distress among cancer patients from the SEA region was not fundamentally very different from that of general populations. These findings provide useful information for health professionals and cancer patients to understand the negative role of psychological distress in quality of life and health. The research findings demonstrate the importance of counselling for psychological distress among cancer patients as means of effectively resolving their psychological problems and ultimately improving the quality of oncology medical care. Clinical recommendations for cancer management should incorporate the early identification of (and therapy for) psychological distress, as well as their monitoring during treatment.

Cancer Survivorship in the Indo-Pacific: Priorities for Progress

“…Research focusing on psychosocial needs has revealed regional and cultural variations in prevalence of anxiety, depression, and psychologic and informational needs across the region. 17 , 18 Studies of financial toxicity, a subjective burden of the cost of cancer and its treatment, including a systematic review and meta-analysis and an eight-country cohort study showed rates of financial toxicity as high as 83% and a 31% incidence of financial catastrophe. 19 , 20 There were also significant gaps in evidence, with no studies on needs of cancer survivors from the Pacific Islands and Territories.…”

Psychological symptoms and health-related quality of life in intubated and non-intubated intensive care survivors: A multicentre, prospective observational cohort study

“… 30 In cancer patients, prevalence rates for PTSD, depression, and anxiety vary on the type of malignancy and methodology of follow-up, but they are similar to those reported in the ICU literature. 3 , [31] , [32] , [33] , [34] One-third of non-intubated patients in our study required non-invasive ventilation that may have been potentially distressing for them. Specifically, non-invasive ventilation can induce a psychological stress response, fear of dying, pain, and suffering; 35 in part caused by mask discomfort, feelings of claustrophobia, and impaired awareness may contribute to psychological distress.…”

Depression and Long-term Mortality among 5-year Breast Cancer Survivors in Korea: A Population-based Cohort Study

“…[29,30] In Korea, where cancer is the leading cause of death, depression and anxiety are common among breast cancer patients and survivors, but often underdiagnosed and undertreated. [31] The Korean health system provides universal coverage for cancer treatment, but the access to and quality of mental health care and support systems for health and social welfare are still inadequate. [32,33] Our study of the Korean cohort further extends evidence on the long-term mortality impact of postbreast cancer diagnosis depression among 5-year cancer survivors, highlighting the need for screening and treating depression in breast cancer patients, especially in Asian populations where depression may be overlooked and undertreated.…”