Anxiety and Depression in Thai Women with Abnormal Cervical Cytology who Attended Colposcopic Unit in Thammasat University Hospital

BACKGROUND: Colposcopy is the standard investigation for women with abnormal cervical cytology. Waiting time to colposcopy could impact to psychological distress. Data about anxiety and depression in eastern countries patients were limited. Aim of this investigation was to evaluate anxiety and depression status in Thai women who were waiting for colposcopy compared to women who attended gynecology clinic for cervical cancer screening. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted at the outpatient gynecology clinic of Thammasat University Hospital between January 2017 to March 2018. A Total of 200 women were recruited into the study. The cases were divided into the study and control group. Study group consisted of one hundred women with abnormal cervical cytology referred to colposcopy. One hundred of women who attended gynecology clinic for cervical cancer screening was classified as control group. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used to determine anxiety in the participants. RESULTS: Total of 200 women who met criteria of the study were recruited. The mean ages of both groups were 40 years old. Both groups were significantly different when it came to their education, 30 and 59 percent of study and control group had education level more than bachelor (p=0.003). The prevalence of anxiety was statistically significantly higher in study group than the control group (15% and 6%, respectively). There was only one case of depression in study. Waiting time and abnormal cervical cytology severity did not affected to anxiety level. CONCLUSIONS: Colposcopy and appointment caused anxiety. However anxiety was not associated with waiting time to colposcopy or Pap result’s severity.