Afectación emocional: ansiedad, depresión y estrés en familiares cuidadores de víctimas con cáncer.

Abstract

Introduction: Family members of oncology patients, whether direct relatives, partners, or friends, play a crucial role in their care, support, and protection, dedicating long hours to assisting them. Cancer not only impacts the patient but also those who care for them, generating psychological effects in caregivers. Often, some of the negative consequences experienced by oncology patients also affect the primary caregiver, who is responsible for providing care to the patient. As the disease progresses, caregivers often experience symptoms of stress, depression, and anxiety, which can persist over time, frequently leading to the development of severe mental disorders. Objective: To identify the factors related to the development of anxiety, depression, and stress in family members of oncology patients. Methodology: A literature review with a qualitative approach was conducted using the virtual library databases of the "Catholic University of Cuenca" such as Scopus, Web of Science, Taylor & Francis, Google Scholar, and SciELO. Results and Conclusions: The factors that influence psychological conditions in caregivers of oncology patients are diverse and complex. It is estimated that caregivers experience negative consequences on their mental health as a result of providing care to the patient, with factors such as the patient's age and the stage of the disease playing a determining role. These caregivers often experience symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress.