Anxiety And Cognitive Functioning In Breast Cancer Patients Treated With Chemotherapy

Cognitive impairment in breast cancer is frequent and mostly associated to the effects of chemotherapy. Less is known about its association with anxiety symptoms, also prevalent in these patients. This study aimed to explore the possible association between anxiety symptoms and attention, processing speed, memory and executive functions in 20 breast cancer patients treated with chemotherapy. Participants with higher anxiety symptoms showed less sustained attention, higher updating abilities, lower planning skills, and higher cognitive inflexibility than participants with lower anxiety symptoms. Neuropsychological rehabilitation focused on attention and executive functions and psychological intervention on anxiety symptoms, even in women without an anxiety disorder, are needed in order to promote a better quality of life and psychological adjustment in breast cancer patients treated with chemotherapy.