Assessment of factors affecting the mental condition of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors

Aim. The aim of the study was to make a general assessment of mental health, including signs of somatization, depression, anxiety, and functional disorders, in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and to assess the impact of factors such as the duration of the disease, side effects of therapy, age, and gender on the occurrence of the above-mentioned disorders. Another goal was to identify patients at risk of developing mental disorders. Method. The study involved 91 patients and was conducted at the Hematology Clinic of the University Hospital in Krakow. The following questionnaires were used to assess mental health: survey created by the author, David Goldberg's questionnaire GHQ-28, and the four-dimensional 4DSQ, measuring four dimensions of the mental condition. Results. The average level of the mental condition of the studied group was demonstrated. 29 people with mental disorders were identified. Women and people living alone obtained worse results in almost all dimensions of the questionnaires. The analysis revealed that factors such as age, number of side effects and gender significantly affect mental disorders in the studied group. A significant and positive correlation has been found between the number of side effects and the presence of somatization signs. Mediocre correlations occurred between age and mental disorders and all dimensions of the GHQ-28. Conclusions. The obtained results indicate that attempts should be made to reduce side effects among CML patients. Visiting the psychologist to work on the acceptance of the disease, psychoeducation, behavioral therapy, and contact with a psychiatrist to consider the introduction of pharmacotherapy is recommended. All of these methods may improve a patient's quality of life.