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Purpose: The purposes of this study are to examine the course and prevalence of anxiety and depression over 24 months in women with newly diagnosed breast and gynaecologic cancer and, controlling for demographic and clinical confounders, to test the role of neuroticism and psychiatric history in determining outcome 6, 12, 18 and 24 months post-diagnosis. Methods: Participants completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-anxiety subscale and Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale on an 8-weekly basis from diagnosis until 96 weeks. Changes over time were analyzed with repeated measures ANOVA. Hierarchical linear regression, adjusted a priori for age, chemotherapy and radiation treatment, living alone, education and tumour stream were used to predict anxiety and depression. Results: Participants were 105 women (66 breast, 39 gynaecologic). Rates of anxiety (18.1 %) and depression (33.3 %) were highest at diagnosis. Average rates of anxiety and depression were 5.9 and 22.4 %, respectively. Average scores of anxiety and depression were highest at diagnosis, with improvement at 8 and 40 weeks, respectively, subsequently maintained. Morbidity at diagnosis was particularly acute among women with a treatment history of anxiety/depression or with high neuroticism. These three variables were the best and only predictors over 24 months. Conclusions: Women are most vulnerable to anxiety and depression at diagnosis, with improvement over time. Morbidity rates are lower than reported elsewhere. Women with high neuroticism and a psychiatric history are at greatest risk for future morbidity after adjusting for confounders. Early identification of these women plus heightened surveillance or early referral to psychosocial services may protect against longer-term morbidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective This study aims to investigate the course and prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms over 56 weeks in women with newly diagnosed breast and gynaecologic cancer and determine the acceptability and efficiency of incorporating routine screening into practice. Methods Participants completed the anxiety subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-A) and Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) at diagnosis and again every 8 weeks for 56 weeks. Changes over time were analysed with repeated measures ANOVA adjusted for post hoc comparisons. Thresholds for caseness/referral to mental health were ≥11 and ≥16 on the HADS-A and CES-D, respectively. Results Participants were 167 women (101 breast, 66 gynaecologic). Mean ± SD age was 57.63 ± 22.66 years. Rates of anxiety (17.7%), depression (32.5%) and combined anxiety and depression (35%) symptoms were highest at diagnosis. Mean ± SD scores of anxiety (6.43 ± 3.83) and depression symptoms (12.68 ± 9.47) were highest at diagnosis with significant improvements observed by 8 and 24 weeks, respectively, and maintained thereafter. Overall rates of anxiety, depression and combined symptoms were 7.5%, 23.4% and 24.1%, respectively. Patients with breast and gynaecologic cancer did not differ. Referral was offered at least once to 94 women (56.3%), of whom 45 (47.9%) declined, 23 (24.5%) accepted and 26 (27.7%) were already receiving treatment. Patient evaluation was favourable. Conclusions Women are most vulnerable to psychological morbidity at diagnosis. Symptoms improve significantly over time. Reported rates are lower than those in the literature. Regular screening by self-report is acceptable to patients but may not be the most efficient method of improving patient outcomes. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]