Psychological adjustment differences in ovarian cancer patients receiving different treatment modalities and their clinical significance

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Ovarian cancer patients often face complex treatment processes and psychological challenges, with different treatment modalities potentially affecting patients’ psychological adjustment abilities.

AIM

To explore the differences in psychological adjustment patterns among ovarian cancer patients receiving surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and combined therapy, and to analyze their relationship with clinical outcomes.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 286 ovarian cancer patients who received different treatment modalities from January 2020 to December 2023. Patients were divided into surgery group (n = 78), chemotherapy group (n = 65), targeted therapy group (n = 61), and combined therapy group (n = 82). The Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, Self-Rating Depression Scale, and Psychological Adjustment to Cancer Scale were used to assess psychological status, while quality of life, treatment adherence, and two-year survival rate data were collected. Some patients (n = 76) received systematic psychological intervention, and the intervention effects were evaluated.

RESULTS

Patients in the combined therapy group had significantly higher Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (56.3 ± 7.2) and Self-Rating Depression Scale (58.4 ± 6.9) scores than other groups, with the highest incidence of anxiety (58.5%) and depression (62.2%); the targeted therapy group scored highest in the positive coping dimension (28.5 ± 3.6) and had the lowest incidence of anxiety and depression (29.5%/31.1%). Logistic regression analysis showed that positive coping (odds ratio = 2.86, 95% confidence interval: 1.75-4.68) and utilization of social support (odds ratio = 2.13, 95% confidence interval: 1.42-3.56) were protective factors for good treatment adherence. Longitudinal assessment showed that although all patients experienced increased anxiety and depression symptoms at 3 months of treatment, the targeted therapy group and surgery group showed significant improvement at 6 months (P < 0.05), while the combined therapy group showed no significant improvement. Psychological intervention effectively improved patients’ treatment adherence (by 22.7%) and quality of life (by 15.6 points), with the best effect in the combined therapy group (anxiety incidence decreased by 30.5%, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Different treatment modalities significantly affect the psychological adjustment abilities of ovarian cancer patients, with combined therapy patients facing greater psychological challenges, while targeted therapy patients exhibit healthier psychological adjustment patterns.

Keywords: Ovarian cancer; Treatment modality; Psychological adjustment; Treatment adherence; Psychological intervention

Core Tip: Systematic psychological intervention demonstrates substantial clinical benefits, improving treatment adherence by 22.7% and quality of life by 15.6 points, with combined therapy patients showing the greatest response to intervention (30.5% reduction in anxiety incidence). These findings support the implementation of treatment-specific psychological support protocols, with combined therapy patients requiring more intensive and prolonged psychological interventions to optimize clinical outcomes and patient well-being.