Background:

Patients with life threatening diseases may experience anxiety and depression.

Aim:

To analyze anxiety and depression in Chilean patients with cancer.

Material and Methods:

The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was applied to 623 ambulatory and hospitalized patients with cancer (70% women).

Results:

A low frequency of clinical anxiety (11,7%) and depression (5,3%) was observed. Depression was more common in women, in patients with mid-level education, in unemployed patients and in older people. Anxiety was more common in young and unemployed patients.

Conclusions:

The frequency of depression and anxiety was low in this group of cancer patients. Women, educated, uneomployed, and older subjects are risk groups for depression. Young and unemployed subjects experience more anxiety.