Exploring the psychological profile: a cross-sectional study of 1,185 patients with pulmonary nodules in an outpatient clinic

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to identify the potential risk and protective factors of psychological burden in patients with pulmonary nodules (PNs) and to explore how the psychological status of the patients affects their treatment preferences. METHODS: In this questionnaire-based study, 1,185 outpatients were evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the correlations between psychological burden and patients’ sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were assessed. RESULTS: Prevalence of anxiety and depression was 42.1% and 27.0%, respectively, among patients with PNs. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that age over 60 years old [odds ratio (OR) =0.57; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.36–0.89], computed tomography (CT) scan due to physical discomfort (OR =1.58; 95% CI: 1.11–2.24), multiple PNs (OR =1.52; 95% CI: 1.20–1.94), family history of malignancy (OR =1.28; 95% CI: 1.01–1.64), and subjective symptoms (OR =1.70; 95% CI: 1.32–2.19) were independently associated with anxiety, while multiple PNs (OR =1.51; 95% CI: 1.15–1.98), subjective symptoms (OR =1.65; 95% CI: 1.23–2.20), and indeterminate nodules (OR =1.91; 95% CI: 1.08–3.40) were independently associated with depression. There was a tendency for patients with anxiety and depression to choose more aggressive management strategies (P<0.001 and P=0.001, respectively). Univariate analysis showed that symptomatic patients (χ(2)=9.696; P=0.021) and those with progressive nodules (χ(2)=18.198, P=0.033) chose more aggressive treatment strategies. CONCLUSIONS: Anxiety and depression are common in patients with PNs, which might result in nonnegligible overtreatment. Presence of subjective symptoms can significantly exacerbate psychological burden and influence treatment preference. Taking psychological factors into consideration in the outpatient clinic may facilitate patient-centered communication and promote judicious decision-making.