PREDICTING RISK OF DEPRESSION IN RURAL CANCER PATIENTS AND THEIR SPOUSES.
Contributors: University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.
Published: 1995
Number of pages: 139
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Health Sciences, Mental Health.; Psychology, Clinical.; Sociology, Individual and Family Studies.
Description: Depression is the most common mental disorder among cancer patients, but is recognized in only one-half of depressed cancer patients (Hardman, Maguire, & Crowther, 1989). Although interventions for depression are known, a problem of when to intervene exists for health care providers. Early recognition of depression can lead to early intervention which may improve the outcome of cancer, response to treatment, survival and lower health care costs. The purpose of the present study was to identify a set of variables that predict the risk of depression for cancer patients and their spouses. The purposive volunteer sample contained 272 cancer patients and their spouses who resided in the state of Montana. Secondary analysis of data from the Montana Family Cancer Project was conducted. The prevalence rates exceeded 25% for depression in cancer patients and 28% for depression in spouses of cancer patients in the secondary analysis of Montana Family Cancer Project. Discriminant analysis showed that the variables, increased symptom distress, low levels of global social support, and spousal depression correctly classified 78% of the cancer patients into depressed (n = 44) or non-depressed groups (n = 145). Discriminant analysis indicated that the variables, negative perceptions of health status low levels of global social support and marital social support correctly classified 73% of the spouses into depressed (n = 60) or non-depressed groups (n = 145). Nurses can anticipate depression in cancer patients who experience increased symptom distress and low levels of social support. There is also a need for nurses to consider depression in spouses of cancer patients who report negative health perceptions and low levels of social support. Identification of those cancer patients and spouses who are most at risk for depression would maximize resources by focusing on those individuals who have greatest risk for depression.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-05, Section: B, page: 2558.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER, 1995.

School code: 0831.