ARTICOLI ORIGINALI   

Minerva Psichiatrica 2014 June;55(2):77-81

Copyright © 2014 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

lingua: Inglese

Anxiety and depression related to the hospitalization experience of patients receiving radioiodine ablation

Pinar Koc Z. ¹, Karakoc A. ², Ansal Balci T. ¹, Kepenek F. ¹, Atmaca M. ²

¹ Department of Nuclear Medicine, Firat University, School of Medicine, Elazig, Turkey; ² Department of Psychiatry, Firat University, School of Medicine, Elazig, Turkey

AIM: Hospital rooms for radioiodine ablation of differentiated thyroid carcinoma are designed according to radiation safety lows where patients have to remain isolated. The aim of the present study was to investigate depression and anxiety levels of the patients associated with hospitalization experience for radioiodine ablation.
METHODS: Thirty patients (8M, 22F; mean: 45±13 years old) with differentiated thyroid carcinoma were included into study. After withdrawal of thyroid hormone replacement at least for three weeks, the patients were subject to the ablation treatment. After routine psychiatric examination Hamilton Anxiety and Depression scales were administered to the patients before and after complement of hospitalization for 1-3 days.
RESULTS: According to the statistical analysis there were no significant differences between Hamilton Depression and Anxiety scores and state and trait anxiety scores of the patients before and after treatment (P>0.05). However, 18 patients were diagnosed as depressed (6 suffering from major depression), and 21 had high anxiety levels, according to Hamilton Depression and Anxiety Scales.
CONCLUSION: Although patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma do not experience anxiety or depression related to the hospitalization itself for radioiodine ablation, they might frequently suffer from depression or anxiety just before the treatment.