OBJECTIVES

Breast cancer is a life-altering diagnosis that can significantly impact the mental health of patients. Understanding the trajectories of psychological symptoms is crucial for providing effective support and interventions. This empirical research paper aims to investigate the longitudinal trajectories of depression, anxiety, and stress among breast cancer patients within the first year of diagnosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A longitudinal study design was employed to assess depression, anxiety, and stress levels at four-time points: baseline (diagnosis), 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after diagnosis. The participants included breast cancer patients ( = 200) recruited fro m the outpatient as well as inpatient department of Surgical Oncology, Sir Sunderlal Hospital, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India. The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 was administered to measure psychological symptoms. Trajectories of depression, anxiety, and stress were analysed using mixed-effects modelling.

RESULTS

The results indicated varying trajectories of depression, anxiety, and stress during the 1 year of diagnosis. At baseline, participants reported significantly higher levels of depression (Mean [M] = 16.42, standard deviation [SD] = 4.89), anxiety (M = 14.36, SD = 5.22), and stress (M = 18.58, SD = 5.72) compared to the general population norms. Over the 12 months, depression levels gradually decreased (β = -0.28, < 0.001), anxiety levels remained relatively stable (β = -0.15, < 0.05), while stress levels showed a significant decrease (β = -0.14, < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest that breast cancer patients experience distinct trajectories of psychological symptoms during the 1 year of diagnosis. While depression showed a gradual decline, anxiety remained relatively stable, and stress exhibited a significant decrease. These results indicate the importance of addressing psychological well-being throughout the cancer journey, as patients may face different emotional challenges at various stages.