F.Sh. Akhmetzyanov1, 2, A.V. Karamanian1, 3
1Kazan State Medical University, Kazan
2Republican Clinical Oncological Dispensary, Kazan
3Medical and sanitary unit of KFU, Kazan
Karamanian A.V. – postgraduate student of the Department of Oncology, Radiation Diagnostics and Radiation Therapy
49 Butlerova St., 420012 Kazan,
Delovaya st., 11/1, Nizhny Novgorod, 603093, Russian tel.: +7-917-299-51-88, e-mail: angelina.karamanyan1997@yandex.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0001-7168-337X
Abstract. Quality of life in patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (NHL) remains an understudied aspect of therapy, despite its significant impact on treatment efficacy. This study evaluated the effect of psychological support on anxiety levels, depression, and overall quality of life in 71 NHL patients undergoing chemotherapy. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and quality-of-life assessments across key parameters (mobility, self-care, daily activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression) were used.
The results demonstrated that anxiety was most pronounced during initial chemotherapy cycles but decreased by the third to fourth cycle due to psychotherapeutic intervention. Depressive symptoms persisted longer, improving only toward the end of treatment, which underscores the need for prolonged psychological support. Integrating psychotherapy into comprehensive care contributed to emotional stabilization and enhanced subjective quality-of-life assessments, despite physical limitations.
The study confirms that psychological support does not affect survival rates but is crucial for improving patients’ psychosocial adaptation. Personalized approaches, including counseling and therapeutic exercise, help to reduce fatigue, sleep disturbances, and improve treatment adherence. Quality-of-life monitoring should become a standard in oncohematological practice to promptly identify patient needs and optimize therapy.
Key words: non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, quality of life, psychological support, anxiety, depression, chemotherapy.