Mental health well-being and functional adjustment in colorectal cancer patients: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Colorectal cancer significantly affects the quality of life of patients, while at the same time contributing to the development of symptoms of psychopathology. The aim of this prospective study, is to investigate the role of the disease in the quality of life of patients with colon cancer and in the appearance of symptoms of anxiety and depression, as well as the connection of the above characteristics during the recovery process, given the distress symptoms experienced by the patients.

Methods: In the present study, HADS, FACT - C, well as the DT are use, in a sample of 118 patients of an average age of 70.5 ± 8.5 years, which were submitted to partial or total colectomy surgery.

Results: Moderate levels of anxiety (M = 8.25, SD = 3.87) and low levels of depression (M = 6.90, SD = 2.97) and distress (M = 5.84, SD = 2.60) emerged preoperatively, while the improvement was significant of patients' quality of life level 6 months after surgery. At the same time, a significant negative effect of the patients' distress level preoperatively on their quality of life, during the recovery process was observed.

Conclusion: Preoperative anxiety is not considered to be an element that affects the functionality and the psychological and physical adaptation to the disease of patients with colon cancer. On the contrary, the feelings of distress they experience can be a predictive factor of their quality of life after the partial or total colectomy surgery.