Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on November 23, 2011
Psychiatric disorders are believed to be a barrier for appropriate and timely medical care among vulnerable populations.
A new investigation studied if pre-existing depression (with and without anxiety) would influence the time to diagnostically resolve an abnormal mammogram and/or Pap test.
Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) discovered suffering from depression was not associated with a prolonged time to diagnostic resolution in a vulnerable population of urban women.
Cancer outcomes are influenced by the time to treatment after an abnormal cancer screen. Some studies have found that women with psychiatric disorders are less likely to receive cancer screening and may also have delays in diagnostic resolution after an abnormal screening test.
Vulnerable populations of women, as defined by low income or with racial/ethnic minority status, are less likely to receive standard preventive health care, which contributes to worse breast and cervical cancer outcomes.
Depression is prevalent in these populations, and may lead to worse health care outcomes.
In recognition of these variables, researchers conducted a retrospective chart review of electronic medical records to identify women who had a diagnosis of depression or anxiety in the year prior to the abnormal mammogram or Pap test.
They used time-to-event analysis to analyze the outcome of time to resolution after abnormal cancer screening.
Read in Full:
http://psychcentral.com/news/2011/11/23/mood-disorders-may-not-hinder-cancer-diagnosis/31816.html
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