A comparative study of depression, anxiety and body image among breast cancer patients postmastectomy and breast recnstruction [sic] reconstruction in a hospital in the South of Lebanon

Abstract

Breast cancer is very common among women worldwide, and it leads to death in several cases. Various surgeries have been developed and used in oncological settings to prevent the spread of this disease, resulting in a dramatic increase of survival rates over the past years. The psychological wellbeing of patients has also become an area of interest for researchers. This comparative study explores the psychological wellbeing (depression, anxiety, and body image) of breast cancer patients who underwent either a mastectomy surgery or a mastectomy combined with breast reconstruction. The marital status of patients is considered as a demographic factor to explore whether it is correlated with depressive symptoms. This is the first study to be done in a Lebanese context to help the breast cancer population better understand the effect of these surgeries on breast cancer patients’ mental health. The researcher measures three variables, depression, anxiety, and body image, using the Arabic versions of PHQ-9, GAD-7, and BIS respectively. The study involved 40 breast cancer patients, who were divided into two groups based on their type of surgery: mastectomy reconstruction (n=20) and mastectomy alone (n=20). The results showed that getting breast reconstruction after a mastectomy surgery doesn’t have a statistically significant effect on the psychological wellbeing (depression, anxiety, and body image) of breast cancer patients. Additionally, it was shown that there is a relationship between marital status and depression among breast cancer patients; breast cancer patients who were married, regardless of the type of surgery they underwent, had slightly higher depressive symptoms compared to unmarried patients.