Biography

Carla Retroz Marques is an Anaesthesiology Consultant at Coimbra University Hospitals Centre. She completed her Graduation of Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra (FMUC) (1985-1991).  She did her Master's Degree in Anesthesiology and Pain Therapy from the University Of Coimbra (FMUC) and her Master's Degree in Palliative Care from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra (FMUC). She is a Member of the Chronic Pain Clinic of Coimbra University Hospitals Centre. She gives Guidance Training In Anesthesiology And Pain Therapy.

Abstract

Patients with cancer pain are often subjected to a range of biopsychosocial conditioning factors, although the extent of their interactions remains unclear. This study aims to assess biopsychosocial dimensions using multidimensional questionnaires: (i) evaluate the role of self-sufficiency and marital status in the prevalence of psychological distress, such as anxiety and depression; (ii) examine the relationship between depression/anxiety and mortality; and (iii) assess statistical collinearity among three questionnaires regarding the dimensions of depression and anxiety, pain, and QoL. Specifically, it analyzes the impact, correlation, and collinearity of factors such as pain, anxiety, depression, activities of daily living, and quality of life. The study focuses on the relationship between individual autonomy, depression, and anxiety, and their subsequent impact on mortality. This prospective, observational, cross-sectional study was conducted over one year with 120 cancer patients. Data were collected utilizing the Brief Pain Inventory, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Short-Form-36 questionnaire, and subsequently analyzed. The results reveal collinearity among the questionnaires and indicate that the loss of individual autonomy significantly worsens depression, though it does not have a comparable effect on anxiety. Statistically significant correlations were observed between depression and anxiety with mortality. The findings underscore the importance of early recognition of distress symptoms during the management of oncologic patients, alongside effective pain management. Mortality was strongly associated with high scores for depression and anxiety. Family caregiver support and social network involvement should be prioritized, and healthcare providers should promote individual autonomy to improve treatment outcomes. Although further research is needed, this study suggests that adopting a holistic approach to cancer care could not only improve quality of life but also potentially extend life expectancy.