PREVALENCE OF DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, AND STRESS AMONG FEMALE CANCER PATIENTS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN A METROPOLITAN CITY: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

A cancer diagnosis is widely regarded as one of the most stressful life events, often precipitating anxiety and depression due to its profound emotional burden. Female cancer patients face unique challenges as they navigate both the physical manifestations of the disease and its psychological toll. Understanding the prevalence and interplay of socio-demographic factors with depression, anxiety, and stress in this population is critical for informing effective interventions and improving patient care. Methods:Across-sectional hospital-based study was conducted in the Oncology Outpatient Department of a tertiary care hospital in Maharashtra from July to August 2023. Using non-probability convenience sampling, 204 female cancer patients were included. Eligibility criteria required females aged 18 and above, diagnosed at least two weeks prior, while exclusions included pre-existing psychiatric illness, critical conditions, or co-morbidities. After ethics approval and informed consent, data were collected via a semi-structured questionnaire and the DASS-21 scale. It was entered into MS Excel and analyzed using SPSS Version 26. Results: Out of 204 female cancer patients, most (61.3%) were aged 40-59, married (92.2%), and employed (64.7%). Anxiety (32.8%) was most prevalent among cancer patients, followed by depression (28.4%) and stress (24%). Moderate to severe depression was observed in 9% of patients, while 22% experienced extremely severe anxiety, and 11% had moderate stress. Age, education, employment status, marital status, and socioeconomic class demonstrated statistically signicant associations with depression, anxiety, and stress. Conclusion: Female cancer patients experience signicant psychological distress, with anxiety being most prevalent. Socio-demographic factors inuence depression, anxiety, and stress, emphasizing the need for targeted psychosocial interventions and holistic cancer care approaches.