Depression and Prognostic Awareness Among Patients with Brain Tumor and their Caregivers: An Indian Study

Patients with brain tumor and their caregivers are at a high risk of depression. Clinicians have mixed opinions about sharing details of the diagnosis and prognosis with the patients in order to preserve the patient's mental health. This study assessed if there is any difference in prevalence of symptoms of depression in meningioma and glioma patients and caregivers assessed a few days before surgery. The correlation between prognostic awareness and depression was assessed. 29 caregivers and 61 tumor patients were evaluated. Quantitative methods were used. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) was used to assess depression. Findings showed that 34.7% of meningioma patients and 41.9% of glioma patients had depression. 44.5% of the caregivers of glioma patients had depression while none of the caregivers of meningioma patients had depression. 56.7% of the meningioma patients and 62.8% of the glioma patients felt that they had inadequate information about their illness, prognosis and treatment options. 56.1% of the patients wanted more information regarding the illness while only 4.2% of the caregivers agreed that more information should be given to the patient regarding the illness. Poor prognostic awareness was associated with higher level of depression among patients. Clinician-patient communication patterns need careful evaluation, where the doctor gives accurate information regarding the prognosis while also maintaining hope.