Affects of Anxiety and Depression on Health-Related Quality of Life among Patients with Benign Breast Lumps Diagnosed via Ultrasonography in China

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Zhe Lou³  Yinyan Li¹  Yilong Yang²  Lie Wang²  Jun Yang³ 

[1] Department of Ultrasonic Diagnosis, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, No. 155 Nanjingbei Road, Heping District, Shenyang 110001, China; E-Mail:;Department of Social Medicine, School of Public health, China Medical University, No.77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang 110013, China; E-Mails:;Department of Cardiovascular Ultrasonic Diagnosis, the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, No.155 Nanjingbei Road, Heping District, Shenyang 110001, China; E-Mail:

关键词: China;    benign breast lumps;    anxiety symptoms;    depressive symptoms;    health-related quality of life;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijerph120910587

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

There is a high incidence of benign breast lumps among women, and these lumps may lead to physical and psychological problems. This study aims to evaluate anxiety and depressive symptoms among patients with benign breast lumps diagnosed via ultrasonography and investigate their impacts on health-related quality of life (HRQOL). A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Shenyang, China, from January to November 2013. Data were collected with self-administered questionnaires, including the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), together with demographic characteristics, from patients of the Department of Breast Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis (HMR) was performed to explore the effects of anxiety and depression on HRQOL. The overall prevalences of anxiety (SAS score ≥ 40) and depression (CES-D scores ≥ 16) were 40.2% and 62.0%, respectively, and 37.5% of the participants had both of these psychological symptoms. The means and standard deviations of PCS and MCS were 75.42 (15.22) and 68.70 (17.71), respectively. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were significantly negatively associated with the HRQOL of patients with benign breast lumps diagnosed via ultrasonography. Women with benign breast lumps diagnosed via ultrasonography in China experienced relatively high levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms. Anxiety and depressive symptoms had significant negative impacts on both the mental and physical quality of life (QOL) of women with benign breast lumps. Beyond the necessary clinical treatment procedures, psychological guidance and detailed explanations of the disease should be offered to alleviate the anxiety and depressive symptoms and enhance the HRQOL of patients with benign breast lumps.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.