Depression and anxiety in pet owners after a diagnosis of cancer in their pets: a cross-sectional study in Japan

Objective

To determine the presence and predictors of depression and anxiety in pet owners after a diagnosis of cancer in their pets.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

A veterinary medical centre specialised in oncology for dogs and cats and two primary veterinary clinics in Japan.

Participants

The participants for analysis were 99 owners of a pet with cancer diagnosis received in the past 1–3 weeks and 94 owners of a healthy pet.

Main outcome measures

Self-reported questionnaires were used to assess depression and anxiety. Depression was assessed using the Center of Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and anxiety was measured by using the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory-Form JYZ.

Results

Depression scores were significantly higher in owners of a pet with cancer than owners of a healthy pet, even after adjustment for potential confounders (p<0.001). Within the owners of a pet with cancer, depression was significantly more common in those who were employed than those who were unemployed (p=0.048). State anxiety scores were significantly higher in owners of a pet with cancer than owners of a healthy pet, even after adjustment for potential confounders, including trait–anxiety scores (p<0.001). Furthermore, in owners of a pet with cancer, state anxiety was higher in owners with high trait anxiety (p<0.001) and in owners whose pets had a poor prognosis (p=0.027).

Conclusion

The results indicate that some owners tended to become depressed and anxious after their pets had received a diagnosis of cancer. Employment may be a predictor of depression. High trait anxiety and a pet with a poor prognosis may increase owners' state anxiety. Including the pet in a family genogram and attention to the pet's health condition may be important considerations for family practice.

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