Although there are many scientific studies on depression and cancer, we still do not know if this disorder is connected to the quality of life of the subject who is suffering from oncological disorders. A research group of the Universidad de Granada, supervised by professor Antonio Maldonado López, has evaluated different social groups with a high degree of this psychological disorders, with patients of the Virgen de las Nieves Hospital.
The study intends to analyse how depression affects the quality of life of the individuals who suffer form this pathology. In order to do this, the group supervised by professor Maldonado, in collaboration with the department of Medical Oncology and Radiotherapy of the medical establishment, carried out a first sampling among patients who suffered from a minor diseases (such as flu), women with breast cancer suffering from depression and women with the same problem who did not suffer from this psychological disorder.
The results produced by this first study were significant: the quality of life of the patients with cancer patients who did not suffer from depression and of those who suffered from flu was not significantly different, but there were notable differences with regard to those patients who had developed a depressive state. It was interesting to confirm that about 25 per cent of the cancer patients presented this psychological disorder and, therefore, a deterioration of their quality of life.
The group, supervised by Professor Maldonado, carried out a treatment program for cancer patients who felt depressed through six group sessions of cognitive-behavioural treatments. They could verify that the quality of life of these women improved as they got over their depressive state.
Depression can last for years
In accordance with the official data, between 10 and 15 per cent of the Spanish (about four and a half million people) suffers from depressive disorders that affect both them themselves and the people around them. Depression affects organism (brain), mood (self-esteem) and the way individuals think and act, which makes it different to a passing state of sadness. This illness is not a sign of personal weakness and, if it is not properly treated, its symptoms can last for weeks, months and even years.
The professor of the Universidad de Granada says that a correct proceeding can ‘heal’ depression; with a pharmacological treatment it is possible to achieve a short-term recuperation (although relapsing is possible), whereas with a cognitive-behavioural treatment the recuperation takes more time, but there is a higher degree of overcoming of the disorder.
Reference:
Prof Antonio Maldonado López. Dpt of Experimental Psychology and Behaviour Physiology of the Universidad de Granada.
Phone numbers. 958 243 768 / 958 244 278.
E-mail: anmaldo@ugr.es
