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Meta-Analysis
. 2021 Nov;125(11):1582-1592.
doi: 10.1038/s41416-021-01542-3. Epub 2021 Sep 4.

The mental health impacts of receiving a breast cancer diagnosis: A meta-analysis

Justine Fortin  1   2 , Mélissandre Leblanc  3 , Guillaume Elgbeili  4 , Matthew J Cordova  5 , Marie-France Marin  6   7 , Alain Brunet  4   8
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

The mental health impacts of receiving a breast cancer diagnosis: A meta-analysis

Justine Fortin et al. Br J Cancer. 2021 Nov.

Abstract

Background: Receiving a breast cancer diagnosis can be a turning point with negative impacts on mental health, treatment and prognosis. This meta-analysis sought to determine the nature and prevalence of clinically significant psychological distress-related symptoms in the wake of a breast cancer diagnosis.

Methods: Ten databases were searched between March and August 2020. Thirty-nine quantitative studies were meta-analysed.

Results: The prevalence of clinically significant symptoms was 39% for non-specific distress (n = 13), 34% for anxiety (n = 19), 31% for post-traumatic stress (n = 7) and 20% for depression (n = 25). No studies reporting breast cancer patients' well-being in our specific time frame were found.

Conclusion: Mental health can be impacted in at least four domains following a diagnosis of breast cancer and such effects are commonplace. This study outlines a clear need for mitigating the impacts on mental health brought about by breast cancer diagnosis. CRD42020203990.

Keywords: depression; oncology, anxiety; post-traumatic stress; psychological distress; well-being.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. PRISMA flow diagram [63].
The figure shows the flow of information through the different phases our meta-analysis following PRISMA methodology [63].
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. Forest plot for anxiety symptoms.
Instruments. STAI State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, SCID shortened version of the Structured Clinical Interview, HADS-A Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale- Anxiety subscale, LSAA Leeds General Scales for the Self-Assessment of Anxiety. Other terms. Events: n total of participants with severe anxiety symptoms; Total: n total.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3. Forest plot for depressive symptoms.
Instruments. SCID shortened version of the Structured Clinical Interview, BSI-18 The Brief Symptom Inventory 18 item (depression subscale), HADS-D Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale- Depression subscale, LSAD Leeds general scales for the Self-Assessment of Depression, CES-D Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, SCL-90-R Symptom Checklist-90—Revised (depression subscale), PHQ-9 Patient Health Questionnaire 9‐Item Depression Module, BDI Beck Depression Inventory. Other terms. Events: n total of participants with severe depressive symptoms; Total: n total.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4. Forest plot for non-specific distress symptoms.
Instruments. BSI-18 The Brief Symptom Inventory 18 items (distress), SDS The Symptom Distress Scale, POMS Profile of Mood States, DT distress thermometer, SCL-90-R Symptom Checklist-90—Revised (distress), GHQ-12 General Health Questionnaire-12 items. Other terms. Events: n total of participants with severe non-specific distress symptoms; Total: n total.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5. Forest plot for PTSD symptoms.
Instruments. IES-I/A Impact of Event Scale Intrusion and Avoidance scores summed, PC-PTSD 4-item Primary Care PTSD Screen, IES Impact of Event Scale, SCID shortened version of the structured clinical interview. Other terms. Events: n total of participants with PTSD symptoms; Total: n total.
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References

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