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Abstract

Background & objective:  To accept a cancer diagnosis to the patients by the healthcare professionals, and to it by the patients, often remains the most challenging part of the entire procedure for many survivors of primary or recurrent breast cancer. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of depression and anxiety among patients with breast cancer in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Methodology: A cross-sectional survey study was conducted in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, between November 2024 and February 2025, to examine the prevalence of depression and anxiety among adult female patients aged over 18 years diagnosed with breast cancer. The convenience sampling technique was utilized in this research. The research participation link was circulated through social media platforms, including Facebook and WhatsApp. PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scales were utilized to measure the prevalence of anxiety and depression.
Results: A total of 137 breast cancer patients were included in the analysis. Anxiety levels were distributed among patients as follows: 46 (33.6%) had mild anxiety, 50 (36.5%) had moderate anxiety, and 41 (29.9%) experienced severe anxiety. Depression severity varied; 11 (8.0%) reported mild symptoms, 54 (39.4%) experienced moderate depression, 42 (30.7%) had moderately severe depression, and 30 (21.9%) suffered from severe depression. The GAD-7 mean score was (12.6 ± 4.9) out of 21, and the PHQ-9 mean score was (15.8 ± 5.21) out of 27. Patients who underwent radiotherapy had significantly higher odds of experiencing depression (P = 0.02) and a nearly significant association with anxiety (P = 0.05). Additionally, surgery showed a borderline protective association with anxiety (P  = 0.05).
Conclusion: Depression and anxiety are common psychological illnesses among females with breast cancer. Psychological intervention should be directed towards high-risk patients. Psychological support program should be facilitated for the patients in order to improve their clinical outcomes.
Abbreviations: GAD-7: Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7, PHQ-9: Patient Health Questionnaire-9, SAR: Saudi Arabian Riyals,
Keywords: Anxiety; Breast cancer; Depression; Saudi Arabia
Citation: Hafiz LA, Aljifri HM, Abdulaal SM, Siddiqi RT, Alamoudi AK. Prevalence of Depression and Anxiety among Patients with Breast Cancer in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Anaesth. pain intensive care 2025;29(7):685-693. DOI: 10.35975/apic.v29i7.2953
Received: April 17, 2025; Revised: April 21, 2025; Accepted:  April 28, 2025.