Objective:

To identify the levels of anxiety, depression, and behavioral activation in Mexican oncology patients, as well as sociodemographic and cancer-related predictors.

Method:

116 patients (mean = 53 years, standard deviation 16.57) responded to a psychological battery (Beck Depression Inventory II, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Behavioral Activation Scale for Depression).

Results:

62.07% presented anxiety and 56.03% depression; 59.5% reported being somewhat active, suggesting that they maintain basic and instrumental activities. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that behavioral activation (β = -0.381, p = 0.000) and age (β = -0.133, p = 0.037) have a positive effect on depression, while anxiety (β = 0.507, p = 0.000) and religion (β = 0.141, p = 0.019) a negative effect.

Conclusions:

It is necessary to continue investigating about the negative effects of the religion variable on anxious-depressive symptoms, as well as to know if the adequate programming of activities and the clarity in the values reduce the presence of depression in the cancer population.