Depression and Anxiety Among Adolescents with Cancer: A Saudi Cross-Sectional Study

Background/Objectives: Adolescents undergoing treatment for cancer face both physical and psychological challenges, including depression and anxiety, yet local prevalence data remain limited in Saudi Arabia. The primary objective was to determine the prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms among adolescents with cancer at a tertiary center in Riyadh; a secondary, exploratory objective was to examine associations with socio-demographic and clinical factors.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary oncology center in Riyadh. Using convenience sampling, 86 adolescents aged 12–18 years with a confirmed tumor diagnosis completed a study-developed questionnaire and the validated Arabic PHQ-9 and GAD-7; analysis was restricted to the 59 participants with malignant disease.