Gender Differences in the Occurrence and Severity of Depression, Anxiety, and Attentional Fatigue in Oncology Patients Receiving Chemotherapy

ABSTRACTFindings from population-based studies suggest that women report higher occurrence rates of psychological distress. However, limited information exists on gender differences in depressive symptoms, anxiety, and decrements in attentional function in oncology patients. Given the paucity of research and the inconsistent findings, the purposes of this study, in a sample of outpatients receiving chemotherapy (CTX, n = 926), were to evaluate for gender differences in demographic and clinical characteristics, as well as in occurrence rates for and severity ratings of depressive symptoms, anxiety, and decrements in attentional function. Patients completed self-report instruments and medical records were reviewed for disease and treatment information. Across these psychological symptoms, female patients had higher occurrence rates for clinically meaningful levels of depressive symptoms, anxiety, and decrements in attentional function. In addition, females reported higher severity scores for all three symptoms. Given the high prevalence rates for clinically meaningful levels of all three symptoms in both men and women, clinicians need to perform more detailed assessments of these symptoms. Future studies will need to evaluate the underlying mechanisms that contribute to the gender differences in depressive symptoms, anxiety, and decrements in attentional function. Key words: cancer; depression; anxiety; attentional fatigue; chemotherapy; gender difference