Prevalence of Depression and Its Impact on Quality of Life in Cancer Survivors: An Observational Study From South India.

BACKGROUND

Advances in cancer therapy have extended survival, shifting focus toward survivorship and quality of life (QoL). Depression is a common but under-recognized issue among cancer survivors, influencing psychological adaptation and well-being.

AIM: To assess the prevalence of depression and its impact on quality of life among cancer survivors beyond one year of diagnosis.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 55 cancer survivors at a tertiary care centre. Depression was assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), and QoL was evaluated with the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire (covering physical, psychological, social, and environmental domains).

RESULTS

The mean age of the study participants was 55.7 ± 11.5 years; 15 (27.3%) were male and 40 (72.7%) female. Depression was observed in 42 survivors (76%), of whom 22 (52.3%) had mild depression, 14 (33.3%) had moderate depression, and 6 (14.2%) had severe depression. The mean WHOQOL-BREF scores were 55.7 in the physical domain, 54.6 in the psychological domain, 52.1 in the social domain, and 77.5 in the environmental domain. Quality of life declined progressively with increasing severity of depression, with individuals experiencing severe depression reporting the lowest scores across domains.

CONCLUSION

Depression is highly prevalent among cancer survivors (76%) and strongly associated with impaired QoL, especially in environmental (Mean score:77.5) and physical domains (Mean score:55.7). Routine psychosocial screening and integrative supportive interventions are essential to optimize survivorship outcomes.