DEPRESSION AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN WOMEN WITH BREAST CANCER

Abstract

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women. Psychological reactions to
new the disease are most often expressed in the form of depression and anxiety. Numerous studies
suggest a correlation between depression and quality of life in women with breast cancer.
Objective: Investigate the relationship between the degree of depression and quality of life in women
with breast cancer.
Subjects and methods: The study was conducted by applying a survey on a sample of 50 subjects at the
Clinic for Oncology of the University Clinical Hospital Mostar. A sociodemographic questionnaire
specifically designed for this study, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the WHOQOL-BREF Quality
of Life Questionnaire were used in the study.
Results: A negative correlation was found between the level of depression and quality of life in women
with breast cancer, however, the correlation was not statistically significant. The subjects with children,
higher economic status, are self-mobile and do not take medication showed a higher level of quality of
life. There was no statistically significant difference in relation to sociodemographic data of women
with breast cancer.
Conclusion: There is a negative correlation of quality of life with depression in women with breast
cancer, but the correlation is not statistically significant.