TY - JOUR
T1 - Prevalence of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder among Omani children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer
T2 - a prospective cross-sectional study
AU - Al-Saadi, Laila S.
AU - Chan, Moon Fai
AU - Al Sabahi, Amal
AU - Alkendi, Jalila
AU - Al-Mashaikhi, Nawal
AU - Sumri, Hana Al
AU - Al-Fahdi, Amal
AU - Al-Azri, Mohammed
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2024.
PY - 2024/4/23
Y1 - 2024/4/23
N2 - BACKGROUND: Children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer often experience psychological distress, encompassing anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of these conditions among Omani children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer, alongside identifying contributing factors.METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2021 to June 2023 among a cohort of Omani children and adolescents (6-18 years old) diagnosed with cancer at three primary cancer referral centres in Oman. Validated Arabic-language versions of the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children, and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised instruments were used to assess symptoms of anxiety, depression, and PTSD, respectively. An initial assessment (T1) was undertaken within the first 3 months of diagnosis, followed by a second assessment (T2) 3-6 months later.RESULTS: Of 113 eligible participants, 101 agreed to participate in the study (response rate: 95.6%), with 92 (91.0%) completing both assessments and included in the final analysis. Prevalence rates of anxiety, depression, and PTSD decreased from 43.5%, 56.5%, and 32.6%, respectively, at T1, to 38.0%, 35.9%, and 23.9% at T2. All average scores were below diagnostic cut-off points, except for the depression score at T1. Anxiety and depression scores decreased significantly (p = 0.043 and 0.001, respectively) between T1 and T2, as did the overall prevalence of depression (p = 0.004). At T1, linear regression analysis showed significant correlations between anxiety scores and the child's age and PTSD score (p < 0.05); these variables were also correlated with depression scores (p ≤ 0.001). At T2, significant correlations were observed between anxiety scores and the child's age and PTSD scores (p < 0.001). At both T1 and T2, anxiety, depression, and PTSD scores remained significantly correlated (p < 0.001).CONCLUSIONS: Omani children and adolescents recently diagnosed with cancer exhibit a high prevalence of anxiety, depression, and PTSD over time. Age-appropriate communication, ongoing support, and mental health services are recommended to help this patient group cope with their diagnosis and manage their emotional wellbeing. There is a need for future research to determine the effectiveness of specific psychological interventions in reducing the frequency of these disorders.
AB - BACKGROUND: Children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer often experience psychological distress, encompassing anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of these conditions among Omani children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer, alongside identifying contributing factors.METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2021 to June 2023 among a cohort of Omani children and adolescents (6-18 years old) diagnosed with cancer at three primary cancer referral centres in Oman. Validated Arabic-language versions of the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children, and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised instruments were used to assess symptoms of anxiety, depression, and PTSD, respectively. An initial assessment (T1) was undertaken within the first 3 months of diagnosis, followed by a second assessment (T2) 3-6 months later.RESULTS: Of 113 eligible participants, 101 agreed to participate in the study (response rate: 95.6%), with 92 (91.0%) completing both assessments and included in the final analysis. Prevalence rates of anxiety, depression, and PTSD decreased from 43.5%, 56.5%, and 32.6%, respectively, at T1, to 38.0%, 35.9%, and 23.9% at T2. All average scores were below diagnostic cut-off points, except for the depression score at T1. Anxiety and depression scores decreased significantly (p = 0.043 and 0.001, respectively) between T1 and T2, as did the overall prevalence of depression (p = 0.004). At T1, linear regression analysis showed significant correlations between anxiety scores and the child's age and PTSD score (p < 0.05); these variables were also correlated with depression scores (p ≤ 0.001). At T2, significant correlations were observed between anxiety scores and the child's age and PTSD scores (p < 0.001). At both T1 and T2, anxiety, depression, and PTSD scores remained significantly correlated (p < 0.001).CONCLUSIONS: Omani children and adolescents recently diagnosed with cancer exhibit a high prevalence of anxiety, depression, and PTSD over time. Age-appropriate communication, ongoing support, and mental health services are recommended to help this patient group cope with their diagnosis and manage their emotional wellbeing. There is a need for future research to determine the effectiveness of specific psychological interventions in reducing the frequency of these disorders.
KW - Adolescents
KW - Anxiety
KW - Cancer
KW - Children
KW - Depression
KW - Oman
KW - Post-traumatic stress disorder
KW - Prospective Studies
KW - Prevalence
KW - Anxiety/epidemiology
KW - Cross-Sectional Studies
KW - Humans
KW - Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/epidemiology
KW - Male
KW - Oman/epidemiology
KW - Depression/epidemiology
KW - Neoplasms/psychology
KW - Adolescent
KW - Female
KW - Child
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85191041975&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/6233f469-fe43-371f-97da-9aac6b568705/
U2 - 10.1186/s12885-024-12272-z
DO - 10.1186/s12885-024-12272-z
M3 - Article
C2 - 38654218
AN - SCOPUS:85191041975
SN - 1471-2407
VL - 24
JO - BMC Cancer
JF - BMC Cancer
IS - 1
M1 - 518
ER -