PECULIARITIES IN CORRECTING ANXIETY AND DEPRESSIVE DISORDERS IN CARE-GIVERS FOR SERIOUSLY ILL PATIENTS WITH CANCER

Abstract

The challenges faced by families of patients with cancer can be categorized into three main groups: emotional disorders in caregivers, behavioral changes, and problems related to the care and treatment system. Emotional disorders encompass anxiety, uncertainty about the patient's health, and a pervasive sense of helplessness. Behavioral changes involve shifts in family roles and lifestyle, intensified care-giving responsibilities, particularly in the later stages of treatment, and financial hardships stemming from the costs of anticancer treatment. Systemic challenges in care and treatment further compound the difficulties experienced by the family unit. Anxiety and depressive disorders were detected in 69.3±3.8% of relatives of patients with malignant neoplasms. To correct emotional disorders in caregivers for patients with cancer, a correctional complex was proposed, which included a combination of rational, short-term positive, cognitive-behavioral and family psychotherapy with psychopharmacotherapy. Under the influence of the proposed complex for the correction of anxiety-depressive disorders in caregivers, a significant decrease in the severity of symptoms of depression (MADRS, p<0.05) and anxiety (HAM-A) was noted after 4 weeks. This was clinically manifested by a subjective improvement in mood, a decrease in the amplitude of fluctuations in affective disorders, diminished signs of emotional labiality, improved sleep, increased productivity in everyday activities, and a reduction in signs of anxiety. The proposed intervention demonstrated its efficacy in positively impacting the well-being of caregivers, highlighting the importance of a multifaceted approach to address the complex challenges faced by families in the context of cancer care.