OBJECTIVES:This study aimed at identifying psychiatric problems among patients who were diagnosed with breast cancer and scheduled for mastectomy.
METHODOLOGY:All the women who were diagnosed with breast cancer and were awaiting their scheduled mastectomy at the surgical clinic were interviewed using the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ) and the Zung Self Rating Depression Scale. Their sociodemographic and histopathological reports were also noted.
RESULTS:There were 21 women included in this study with mean age of 43.5 years. Majority (61.9%) were married and mostly high school graduates (42.8%) and unemployed i.e. 76.19% housewives. Most complained of breast pain (71.4%) while a third (38.1%) noted nipple discharge. Based on the SRQ,61.9% scored positive for mood/ anxiety and only 4.7% were found to be positive for psychosis. When rated according to the Zung Self Rating Depression Scale, 6 or 28.6% were noted to have marked depression and 5 or 23.8% had severe depression.
CONCLUSION:Since most women with breast cancer in this study have been found to be positive for mood/anxiety and depression, it is recommended that screening for psychiatry morbidity should be part of the standard care and a support group manned by mental health professionals should be established as part of the holistic management.