Depression and personality in lung cancer patients

Objective : Depression is highly prevalent in cancer patients. Additional studies are needed to identify the patients particularly at risk for depressive reactions, evaluate differences in reactions to diagnosis of lung cancer, as well as intensity of depressive reactions. Our aim was to asses if personality dimensions predicted depression in lung cancer patients. Methods : Fifty four newly diagnosed non-small cell lung cancer patients in oncology unit before starting any therapy procedure were assessed on oncology unit with Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ) C30 subscales for physical health and pain and Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). Disease severity was determined by the cancer stage. Results : 24(44.4%) of the patients fulfilled the cut-off criteria for depression. Mean pain perception was 31.94 (SD 31.57) and physical health 72.05 (SD 19.8). The logistic regression analyses revealed pain (B=0.025; Wald=4.622; p=0.032) and personality dimension Harm avoidance (B=0.190; Wald 5.836; p=0.016) as significant predictors of depression Conclusions : Depression is highly prevalent in lung cancer patients and should be screened in regular clinical practice. Due its associations with depression, patients’ personality should be taken in account in preventing depressive reactions using adequate psychosocial interventions.