AUTHOR=Monteiro Ana Júlia , de Labra Carmen , Losa-Iglesias Marta Elena , Dias Adriano , Becerro-de-Bengoa-Vallejo Ricardo , Silva-Migueis Helena , Cardoso Paula , López-López Daniel , Gómez-Salgado Juan 

TITLE=Depressive symptoms and their severity in a sample with lymphedema: a case–control investigation

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry

VOLUME=14

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1202940

DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1202940

ISSN=1664-0640

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Objectives</title><p>Depression is a condition that can be associated with other illnesses, especially chronic illnesses. Lower limb lymphedema is a chronic, disabling condition that can affect the quality of life and be related to psychological and psychosocial factors that interfere with people’s lives. This study aims to characterize and analyze the depressive symptoms and their severity reported by people with lower limb lymphedema and compare them with a matched group without lymphedema.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>A case–control study was carried out (<italic>n</italic> = 80) with participants divided into a case group (40 people with lower limb lymphedema) and a control group (40 people without lower limb lymphedema). Both groups were anthropometrically, sociodemographically, and clinically characterized. In the case group, a characterization of lymphedema was performed. Participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory-II.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>Individuals with lower limb lymphedema have higher BDI-II scores than the matched group without lymphedema. Somatic depressive symptoms were, in general, the most reported and the ones with the highest scores. The depressive symptoms most reported by the case group were tiredness or fatigue, loss of energy, and changes in sleeping. Tiredness or fatigue, loss of energy, and loss of interest in sex were the most severe depressive symptoms reported by individuals with lower limb lymphedema.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>Considering the apparent tendency to depression, greater attention should be given to the mental health of people with lower limb lymphedema.</p></sec>