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

Abstract

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.