Psychological distress in lung cancer patients

Abstract

Introduction: Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide and is often accompanied by significant psychological distress, including high rates of anxiety and depression. These mental health issues are common at diagnosis and persist throughout the disease course, negatively affecting quality of life, treatment adherence, and survival.
Anxiety in lung cancer patients stems from fears related to prognosis, treatment, loss of independence, and social stigma, especially due to associations with smoking. Symptoms can be both emotional and physical, and managing anxiety involves stress reduction techniques, social support, counseling, and sometimes medication. Depression is prevalent in lung cancer patients, with higher rates than in many other cancers, and is linked to worse clinical outcomes and lower survival. It often coexists with anxiety and is influenced by disease stage, cancer subtype, and psychosocial factors such as stigma and self-blame. Effective management of depression requires early screening, psychotherapeutic interventions, pharmacotherapy, and supportive lifestyle changes.
In conclusion, despite their prevalence and impact, psychological symptoms are often underrecognized and undertreated in oncology care due to barriers like limited screening and access to mental health services. A multidisciplinary, proactive approach integrating mental health support into lung cancer treatment is essential for improving patients’ emotional well-being and overall outcomes.