The Outcome Analysis of Beck Depression Inventory Scale (BDI-II) and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) Among Patients of Cancer Center of Combined Military Hospital Dhaka

Background: The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) which is vice versa with equipercentile linking are the most frequently used observer-rated and self-report scales of depression, respectively. It is important to know what a given total score or a change score from baseline on one scale means in relation to the other scale. Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the depression symptoms rating scale of Beck Depression Inventory Scale (BDI-II) verses Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) among patients of Cancer Center of Combined Military Hospital Dhaka. Materials and Methods: It was a cross-sectional study. A total of 150 samples were selected by convenient sampling technique. The patients were studied after histopathological confirmation of diagnosis of cancer. Socio-demographic and other data were collected by face-to-face interview using semi structured questionnaire. The BDI-II and HAM-A was used to screen out the patients with depression and anxiety. The diagnosis was confirmed by a psychiatrist using DSM-5 criteria. Data analysis was done by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0 and results were presented with appropriate graphs and texts. Results: The mean age was 46.5±9.5 years. 65.3% were male and 34.7% respondents were female. Male: female ratio 1.9:1. 40.7% patients had moderate depression symptom followed by 30.0% had mild depression symptom, 17.3% patients had severe depression symptom and 12.0% patients had minimum depression symptom that can be considered as no depression. The overall mean score of Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) was 22.1±8.4 with range 5 to 45. Regarding anxiety of cancer patients, 45.3% patients had moderate to severe anxiety symptom followed by 29.3% patients had mild to moderate anxiety symptom, 25.3% patients had minimum anxiety symptom that can be considered as no anxiety symptom. The overall mean score of Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) was 21.6±6.7 with range 7 to 30. Comparatively most of the patients of 31-40 age groups had severe depression level symptoms and among above 50-60 year’s patients had the most severe anxiety symptoms. According to BD-II and HAM-A rating scale, among stage 4 patients 43.8% had severe depression symptom and 87.5% had severe anxiety symptom. Conclusion: Study shows that according to the rating scales both depression and anxiety symptoms are significantly higher in cancer patients. Moreover, frequency and severity of depression and anxiety symptom is much more significantly raised among older age group specially stage 4 cancer patients. Compared with both rating scales the depression level had also shown in 31-40 age groups.