Anxiety and depression in children under 16 years old with cancer in Kashan, Iran, in 2019

Chronic diseases such as cancer in children can increase the risk of depression in different degrees. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of anxiety and depression in children under 16 years of age with cancer referred to the chemotherapy unit of Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Kashan, Iran.

In this cross-sectional study, 60 children from 7 to 16 years of age referred to the chemotherapy unit of Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Kashan, Iran, in 2019 were investigated using the available sampling method. Anxiety disorders were measured by the Hamilton Anxiety Questionnaire and depression disorders were measured using the Mariaquaks Depression Questionnaire. Data of age, sex, type of disease, first stage or relapse, oral or injectable drugs of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, history of invasive treatment and psychiatric diseases were also recorded.

The results showed a statistically significant difference between relapse, current treatment status and radiotherapy with anxiety and depression disorders (P<0.05). A statistically significant difference was found between the type of cancer and anxiety disorder, as well as between oral chemotherapy and history of family psychiatric disorders and depression disorder (P<0.05). The highest frequency of depression and anxiety were reported in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cancer.

The type of cancer, oral chemotherapy and history of family disorders can be related to children's anxiety and depression. Therefore, early diagnosis of mental disorders in children with cancer can prevent the development of anxiety and depression.