Half of the patients with subepithelial tumors present borderline or pathologic anxiety-distress and carcinophobia: a multicenter cohort study

• Francesc Bas-Cutrina ^[1] ; Anna Casellas-Grau ^[2] ; Sebastià Videla ^[1] ; Carme Loras ^[4] ; Xavi Andújar ^[4] ; Francisco Luis Gil ^[2] ; Maica Galán ^[3] ; Fernando Fernández-Aranda ^[1] ; João Carmezim ^[1] ; Joan B. Gornals ^[1]
  1. [1] Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Fundación para la Investigación del Hospital Clínico de Valencia

     Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Fundación para la Investigación del Hospital Clínico de Valencia

     Valencia, España

     
  2. [2] Institute Catalá Oncología

     Institute Catalá Oncología

     Barcelona, España

     
  3. [3] Universitat de Barcelona

     Universitat de Barcelona

     Barcelona, España

     
  4. [4] Hospital Universitari Mútua de Terrassa. Terrassa, Barcelona. Spain

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• Localización: Revista Española de Enfermedades Digestivas, ISSN-e 2340-4167, ISSN 1130-0108, Vol. 115, Nº. 2, 2023, págs. 80-84
• Idioma: inglés
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  • Background and Aims: Minor nonspecific gastrointestinal subepithelial lesions (usually defined by the term ‘tumor’) are usually associated with a malignant illness and cancer. The aim of this study was to assess anxiety-distress and carcinophobia in patients referred to specialized monographic outpatient clinics for evaluation and treatment of this type of lesion. Methods: Prospective, multicenter, cohort study. Specific self-reported questionnaires were used to report threatening life-experiences and to assess levels of distress (The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) and cancer-related worries (The Cancer Worry Scale). Results: Forty participants were included and analyzed at baseline. Pathologic and borderline anxiety were detected in 13% (5/40, 95%CI: 4-27%) and 35% (14/40, 95%CI: 21-52%) of participants, respectively, whereas, cancer-related worries (moderate to very high) were observed in 48% (19/40, 95%CI: 32-64%) of participants. Pathologic global distress was identified in 25% (10/40, 95%CI: 13-42%) of subjects. Higher educational level (university studies), a lack of lifetime psychiatric comorbidity and a lack of family history of cancer were associated with less anxiety, global distress and carcinophobia. Conclusions: Almost half of the patients diagnosed with a minor nonspecific gastrointestinal subepithelial lesion presented anxiety-distress and/or carcinophobia. Specific associations with anxiety-distress reaction and fears were detected.