Abstract 1433P
Background
Mental health issues are under-evaluated and under-treated in gynaecological cancer survivors. Information on the prevalence and neurological correlates of these psychological issues, will help in planning of targeted treatment strategies for this problem. The aim of this study to screen gynaecological cancer survivors for mental health issues and to correlate it with serum neurochemical biomarkers.
Methods
This study included gynaecological cancer survivors in the age group of 18-55 years. The study subjects were assessed using DASS-21 for depression, anxiety and stress screening and WHO ASSISTv3.0 for alcohol, smoking and substance involvement screening. Disease characteristics of cancer survivors were abstracted from medical records. Serum levels of neurochemical biomarkers i.e. Brain Derived Nerve Growth Factor (BDNF), Neuropeptide Y (NPY) and peptide Substance P (SP), were analyzed.
Results
A total of 143 gynaecological cancer survivors were identified. 22.4% of the study population did feel depressed after being diagnosed with gynaecological cancer. The prevalence of depression was not associated with site (p=0.308) or stage of cancer (p=0.778). Serum BDNF level was significantly high in screen positives for depression (98.11±10.7 ng/ml vs 80.47±6.6 ng/ml; p=0.04). Serum NPY (p=0.48) and SP (p=0.68) were not significantly associated. 27.3% patients were screened positive for anxiety, which was not associated with site (p=0.166), stage (p=0.774) of cancer or neurochemical marker levels. 13.33% of the study population did use psychoactive substance after being diagnosed with cancer, independent of site (p=0.233)/stage (p=0.826) of disease. Though, the levels of BDNF and NPY did not correlate with psychoactive substance use, however, serum levels of substance P were significantly associated with its use (101.42 pg/ml vs 81.19; p= 0.02 pg/ml).
Conclusions
Mental health conditions are highly prevalent in gynaecological cancer survivors. Depression is associated with high BDNF levels and substance use with substance P levels. Future trials should focus on elucidating mental health conditions and utility of the neurochemical correlates in these patients.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
AIIMS Intra-mural Research Grant.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.