Comorbidity of posttraumatic stress symptoms and depressive symptoms among gastric cancer patients.

Purpose: The present study aimed to examine the association between clinical level of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and clinical level of depression among gastric cancer patients. The main hypothesis was that most gastric cancer patients with clinical level of PTSD symptoms will suffer from clinical level of depression.

Methods: Participants were 123 consecutive gastric outpatients at stage I-IV recruited from the oncology unit at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center. The patients filled a battery of self-administered questionnaire that assessed demographics, psychiatric symptoms, and data from their medical records.

Results: Having an elevated risk for clinical level of PTSD increased the probability to have an elevated risk for clinical level of depression by fifteen times (OR = 15.739; Wald = 11.333; 95% C.I. = 3.163-78.322; p = .001).

Conclusion: Given the high comorbidity between PTSD symptoms and depressive symptoms among gastric cancer patients, one may suggest that patients, who demonstrate clinical level of PTSD, should be also screened for depression. Psychotherapy with these patients might aim to reduce the double risk of PTSD and depression.