Quality of life in metastatic breast cancer: comparing patients with major depressive episodes with patients without M.I.N.I. diagnosis

AIM: To compare the quality of life indicators in patients with metastatic breast cancer diagnosed with major depressive episodes with those in patients with no psychiatric diagnosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional, observational study at the Day Care Unit of the Oncology Institute “Ioan Chiricuţă” Cluj-Napoca in a group of 100 patients with metastatic breast cancer, during chemotherapy. General data were collected and the patients received a complete psychiatric evaluation, in conjunction with a structured interview and an oncology designed quality of life questionnaire. RESULTS: The rate of major depressive episodes in the group was 29.30%. The patients with major depressive episodes had lower adjusted mean scores for physical, emotional, social and role functioning and higher adjusted mean scores for fatigue, nausea and vomiting, pain, dyspnea, insomnia, appetite loss and constipation than those without diagnosis. The quality of life/global health status scores were significantly lower in the depressive patients group, and the same results were noted for sexual functioning and enjoyment mean scores, as well as for the future perspective. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that patients with metastatic breast cancer and major depressive episodes have an impaired quality of life as compared to those without psychiatric diagnosis.