Psychological Distress in Cancer Patients: Prevalence, Clinical Manifestations, and Psychosocial Determinants — A Cross-Sectional Clinical Analysis

Objective: To determine the prevalence and severity of psychological distress among oncology patients in Uzbekistan
and to identify the principal clinical and sociodemographic factors that modulate distress intensity.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary oncology centre involving 120 adult patients with
confirmed malignant diagnoses. Psychological distress was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale
(HADS) and the Distress Thermometer (DT). Social support was measured via the Multidimensional Scale of
Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Statistical analyses included Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, and Spearman
correlation tests (SPSS 26.0).
Results: Clinically significant distress (DT ³ 4) was identified in 64.2% of patients (mean DT 5.2 ± 2.3).
HADS-defined anxiety was present in 60.8% and depression in 53.4% of participants. Advanced disease stage (Stage
IV vs. I–II: DT 6.8 ± 1.9 vs. 3.9 ± 2.0; p < 0.001), combined chemoradiotherapy, and low perceived social support
(MSPSS < 48; r = -0.61; p < 0.001) were the strongest independent determinants of elevated distress