Posttraumatic stress,depression and anxiety among adult long-term survivors of cancer in adolescence

BackgroundTo determine the prevalence of posttraumatic stress, depression and anxiety in adults who have survived cancer (?5 years) diagnosed in adolescence, as compared to healthy controls.Patients and methodsSurvivors (n = 820) of cancer during adolescence (age M = 30.4 ± 6.0 years; M = 13.7 ± 6.0 years since diagnosis) and 1027 matched controls without history of cancer (age M = 31.5 ± 6.9 years) completed standardised questionnaires measuring posttraumatic stress, depression and anxiety. Additionally, sub-groups of 202 survivors and 140 controls with elevated scores received structured interviews to ascertain DSM-IV-diagnoses.ResultsA total of 22.4% of the survivors reported clinically relevant symptoms of posttraumatic stress, anxiety and/or depression compared to 14.0% of the controls (odds ratios [ORs] 1.77; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.39–2.26). The odds of posttraumatic stress symptoms in male (OR 3.92, 95% CI 1.80–8.51) and female (OR 3.83, 95% CI 2.54–5.76) survivors were more than three times those in the controls. However, only female survivors reported symptoms of depression and anxiety significantly more often (respectively: OR 2.12, 95% CI 1.16–3.85; and OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.33–2.59) than the controls. A relevant subgroup of 24.3% of the survivors met DSM-IV criteria for at least one mental disorder compared to 15.3% of the controls.ConclusionSurvivors of cancer during adolescence show an elevated risk of presenting symptoms of posttraumatic stress, anxiety and/or depression during adulthood which is also reflected in a greater number of DSM-IV diagnoses when compared to controls. Comprehensive follow-up assessments should include the examination of possible psychological late effects of a cancer diagnosis in adolescence in order to identify survivors needing psychosocial interventions even years after the completion of successful medical treatment.