Abstract

SANCHEZ HUERTA, María Suhail; FIGUEROA LOPEZ, Carlos Gonzalo; CACHO DIAZ, Bernardo  and  ROBLES GARCIA, Rebeca. The Relationship Between Autonomic Symptoms and Anxiety and Depression in Women with Breast Cancer. En-clav. pen [online]. 2016, vol.10, n.19, pp.145-162. ISSN 2594-1100.

Breast cancer presents a threat to women who experience stress. Stress can cause anxiety, depression and even deregulate autonomic functioning. Objective: to evaluate the relationship between autonomic symptoms and levels of anxiety and depression reported by women with breast cancer. Method: application of the Autonomic Symptom Profile (ASP) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to 59 women. Results: We found that 49% and 24% of women obtained scores from moderate to severe anxiety and depression, respectively. Pearson correlation analysis found a positive correlation in secretory symptoms, bladder symptoms and sleep disturbances, as well as total ASP score with scores of HADS. In addition, a positive correlation between symptoms of anxiety and depression was found. Conclusion: autonomic manifestations are associated with affective symptoms, thereby signaling the need for a psychophysiological approach to integrate affective and autonomic symptoms.

Keywords : Breast cancer; early clinical stage; anxiety; depression; autonomic symptom profile.

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