Abstract P2-05-10: Depression and anxiety in patients with breast cancer receiving radiotherapy: A prospective longitudinal study

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the prevalence and changes in depression and anxiety symptoms from pre-radiotherapy (RT) to 6 months post-RT in patients with breast cancer receiving RT; and to identify risk factors for depression and anxiety at baseline and for an increase of depression and anxiety over time. Methods: This prospective, longitudinal observational study was conducted in China between August 2022 and August 2023. Depression and anxiety symptoms were measured by the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) before and during RT, at the end of RT, 1 month and 6 months after RT. Uni-variable and multi-variable logistic regression analyses were performed to explore risk factors for baseline depression and anxiety. Generalized estimating equations were performed to evaluate changes in depression and anxiety over time and predictors of an increase of depression and anxiety over time. Results: A total of 504 patients completed baseline questionnaires, and 458 (90.9%) patients completed all five-time assessments. Depression and anxiety decreased significantly over time, with the prevalence decreasing from 37.3% and 26.0% before RT to 28.4% and 20.3% at 6 months after radiotherapy. However, daily insomnia (PHQ-9 Q3) and fatigue (PHQ-9 Q4) showed high scores from pre-RT to 6 months post-RT. In terms of GAD-7, feeling nervous (Q1), worrying too much (Q3), and becoming easily annoyed (Q6) showed high scores. Patients with a family history of cancer and receiving anti-HER2 targeted therapy were independently associated with depression before RT, and patients with premenopausal status, poor family income, and menopausal symptoms were independently associated with both depression and anxiety before RT. Patients receiving anti-HER2 targeted therapy, with a monthly personal income ≤8000 Yuan, and living in rural area were associated with an increase in depression level over time, while patients with poor family income and menopausal symptoms were associated with an increase in anxiety level over time. Conclusions: Depression and anxiety levels were high among patients with breast cancer receiving RT and decreased over time from pre-RT to 6 months post-RT. Routine psychological assessments of these patients were necessary, especially for those with targeted therapy, poor financial status, and menopausal symptoms. Citation Format: Shi-Jia Wang, Feng Xin, Wei Zhang, Yan Liu, Hong-Xia Gao, Hao Jing, Yi-Rui Zhai, Wen-Wen Zhang, Hui Fang, Yu Tang, Yong-Wen Song, Yue-Ping Liu, Bo Chen, Shu-Nan Qi, Yuan Tang, Ning-Ning Lu, Fu-Kui Huan, Ye-Xiong Li, Shu-Lian Wang. Depression and anxiety in patients with breast cancer receiving radiotherapy: A prospective longitudinal study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2024; 2024 Dec 10-13; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2025;31(12 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-05-10.