Half of the patients with subepithelial tumours present borderline or pathologic anxiety-distress and carcinophobia: multicentre cohort study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Minor nonspecific gastrointestinal subepithelial lesions (usually defined by the term 'tumour') are usually associated by the patients with a malignant illness and cancer. Our aim was to assess anxiety-distress and carcinophobia in patients referred to specialized monographic outpatient clinics for evaluation and treatment of this type of lesion. METHODS Prospective, multicentre, cohort study. Specific self-reported questionnaires were used to report threatening life-experiences, and to assess level of distress (The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) and cancer-related worries (The Cancer Worry Scale). RESULTS Forty participants were included and analysed at baseline. Whereas pathologic and borderline anxiety were detected in 13% (5/40, 95%CI: 4-27%) and 35% (14/40, 95%CI: 21-52%) of participants, respectively, cancer-related worries (moderate to very high) were observed in 48% (19/40, 95%CI: 32-64%) of participants. Pathologic global distress was identified in 25% (10/40, 95%CI: 13-42%) of subjects. Higher educational level (university studies), lack of lifetime psychiatric comorbidity, and lack of family history of cancer were associated with lower anxiety, global distress, and carcinophobia. CONCLUSIONS Almost half of the patients diagnosed with a minor nonspecific gastrointestinal subepithelial lesion presented anxiety-distress and/or carcinophobia. We were able to detect specific associations with this anxiety-distress reaction and fears.