CHSJ

Curr Health Sci J, vol. 48, no. 1, 2022

The Clinical, Biological, Psychological and Psychiatric Impact of the Diagnosis of Breast Cancer in Women

[Original Paper]

R.A. Schenker(1), I. Marinescu(2), P.O. Stovicek(3), E. Lukacs(4), L. Pauna-Cristian(5), D. Nica-Badea(6), M.E. Ciurea(7)


(1)PhD student, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Romania
(2)Department of Psychiatry, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Romania
(3)Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Nursing, Târgu Jiu Subsidiary, Titu Maiorescu University, Bucharest, Romania
(4)Department of Psychiatry, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu Mures, Romania
(5)Radiology Department, IMAMED Medical Clinic Bucharest, Romania
(6)Faculty of Health and Behavioral Sciences, Constantin Brâncu?i University, Târgu Jiu, Romania
(7)Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Romania


Abstract:

Objective. Psychosocial factors are correlated with the risk of breast cancer, by the lack of externalization of feelings and aggressive tendencies, or with a negative prognosis, by the presence of a high level of stress and reduced coping abilities. Impairment of psychological status should be assessed early to identify quantifiable psychooncological changes, such as depression, anxiety, and self-esteem. These indicators, measured in this study, may become psychometric markers for predicting the existence of the neoplastic process, prior to histopathological evaluations. Methods. 58 patients diagnosed with breast cancer and in different stages of evolution and 61 breast lumps patients were evaluated for depression, anxiety and self-esteem. Results. The correlation of depression and anxiety levels according to the evolutionary stage of the disease was as follows: in stage I cases of severe depression with significant anxiety predominate, in stage II mild depression predominates with insignificant anxiety, in stage III depression predominates moderate with significant anxiety, while in stage IV moderate depression with significant anxiety predominates. Conclusions. The presence of significant anxiety in the uncertainty phase and the anxious-depressive clinical picture can be an alarm signal for the initiation of specific psychotherapeutic strategies, to increase the adaptive potential and resilience to the disease to ensure a therapeutic collaboration of the patient by increasing adherence and compliance. the proposed therapeutic plan. Relatively sudden anxiety in a young woman, risk factors for breast cancer, and deficient cognitive impairment require intensified clinical and paraclinical investigations to confirm early oncological diagnosis.


Keywords: Breast cancer, depression, anxiety, psycho-oncological assessment.



Corresponding: Ileana Marinescu, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 2 Petru Rares Street, 200349 Craiova, Dolj County, Romania, e-mail: marinescu_psy@yahoo.com


DOI 10.12865/CHSJ.48.01.04 - Download PDF
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