Qualitatively Comparing the Support Needs of People with Cancer Based on Their History of Anxiety/Depression

Abstract

IntroductionResearch rarely considers the origin or history of a cancer patient’s anxiety and/or depression, instead assuming that these illnesses are related to the cancer experience. The aim of this study was to compare differences in the support needs of people who have experienced anxiety/depression as part of the cancer experience and people who have not, as well as between people who have experienced episodic anxiety/depression and people who have experienced long-term anxiety/depression.MethodsTwenty-one semi-structured interviews were conducted with people with a current or previous diagnosis of cancer, and a current or previous experience with anxiety and/or depression. Participants were split into four groups based on their history with cancer and anxiety/depression, and an inductive thematic analysis was conducted to identify themes across groups.ResultsTwo superordinate themes (with three and two subordinate themes respectively) were found: ‘coping with cancer’ and ‘health care system support provision’. Important differences were found across groups, with participants who had a history of anxiety/depression that was unrelated to their cancer diagnosis coping better with the combined burden of cancer and anxiety/depression, experiencing less fear of cancer recurrence, and highlighting more positive hospital and support service related experiences, than those whose anxiety/depression was cancer related.ConclusionThe origin and history of a person’s anxiety/depression is important to consider when determining how they might cope with cancer, what their support needs are, and how much support they may require.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s40487-017-0045-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Effect of concomitant administration of oxycontin and amitriptyline on patients with severe cancer pain and depression

“…Apart from cancer pain, depression is also an important factor that influences life quality of advanced cancer patients [8]. In the past, cancer pain accompanied by depression was managed through psychological intervention, but the effect was not always satisfactory.…”

“…About 60 to 80 % of advanced cancer patients have cancer pain, especially severe cancer pain which influences their psychological and physiological states, easily causing depression. Over 60 % of advanced cancer patients have symptoms of depression [8]. These symptoms negatively influence overall life quality and patients' compliance with treatment, aggravate cancer pain to a certain degree, and even worsen the death rate of patients [9,10].…”