Mental status assessment of patients with recurrenced colorectal cancer

Objective: To estimate the mental status of Chinese patients suffered from recurrenced colorectal cancer after radical resection, and accumulate the data for psychological therapy. Methods: The colorectal cancer patients who were diagnosised and had surgery in Shanghai Changhai Hospital from 2003-01 to 2006-06 were divide into the test group (160 patients with recurrenced colorectal cancer) and control group (167 patients without recurrenced). SAS(self-rating anxiety scale), SDS (sele-rating depressive scale) and self-rating symptom cursing scale were used. Software SPSS10. 0 was used to for the statistic analysis. Results: The effective rate of taking back questionnaire was 100% and all of them were in the statistical analysis. The scores of SAS and SDS in two groups were higher than those of Chinese norm. The scores of SAS and SDS in test group at different time (at the time of diagnose, 1, 3 and 6 months after diag nose) were significantly higher than those in the control group, P < 0.05. The scores of seven body symptoms in test group were significantly higher than those in the control group. Conclusions: Recurrence of cancer after surgery is one kind of strong stimulus that will evoke patients significant mental stress and somatization symptoms. More attention should be paid to this status. Psychological assessment and support should be given during the whole curing period to enhance the curative effect and life quality.