FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The present invention generally relates to psychological assessment.
[002] More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for finding prevalence of psychological distress among cancer patients.
BACKGROUND FOR THE INVENTION:
[003] By reference to US application no. US2021322447A1 by Pike Therapeutics Inc dated 2021-04-15, titled”Transdermal micro-dosing delivery of psychedelics derivatives”discloses transdermal administration of psychedelics, such as psilocybin, psilocin, lysergic acid diethylamine (LSD), and/or ibogaine, and derivatives of these compounds, for the treatment and/or prevention and/or control of severe depression (treatment resistant), major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, quitting smoking, alcohol addiction, cocaine addiction, opioid addiction, anxiety (stress), adult ADHD, cluster headaches, and cancer related or other end-of-life psychological distress.
[004] By reference to CN application no. CN110473630A by Ma Xuelei dated 2019-09-28, titled” A kind of tumor patient mental anguish assessment instrument and its appraisal procedure” discloses a kind of tumor patient mental anguish assessment instrument and its appraisal procedures, comprising: S1, determines research object, extracts its clinical parameter, and the clinical database based on scale assessment result building research object;Facial image data in S2, the processing clinical database;S3, it is predicted using image characteristics extraction algorithm training characteristics extractor and classifier, and to the rating information of input facial image;S4, it is tested based on accuracy, verifies training result, construct product neural network algorithm model;S5, input patient's facial image extract its facial expression feature, and judge patients ' psychological distress level based on the convolutional neural networks algorithm model that training is completed.
[005] By reference to US application no. US10195164B2 by Duke University dated 2016-05-13, titled” Use of disulfiram for inflammatory breast cancer therapy” discloses methods, compositions of matter, and kits for treatment of breast cancer, and in particular for inflammatory breast cancer, in a patient are disclosed. The methods can include administering a redox modulating agent to the patient. The redox modulating agent can be disulfiram.
[006] By reference to US application no. US2018074038A1 by London Health Sciences Centre Research Inc dated 016-03-18, titled” Metabolomics profiling of central nervous system injury” discloses a method of diagnosing central nervous system injuries such as acquired brain injury (ABI) and/or acquired spinal cord injury (ASI), including mild TBI (concussion or blast wave), mild ASI (contusion, stretch or partial cord transection), non-TBI brain injury and/or non-TSI spinal cord injury in a subject (animal or human). The method includes (a) obtaining a biological test sample from the subject, identifying metabolites in the subject's sample using metabolomics thereby obtaining a subject's metabolite matrix and generating a subject's profile using the patient's metabolite matrix; and (b) using multivariate statistical analysis and machine learning to compare the subject's profile with predetermined set of profiles of CNS injuries and a predetermined set of profiles of controls to determine if the subject has a CNS injury.
[007] By reference to IN application no. IN557CH2013A by THOOMATTI SUDHARSAN ANITHA [IN]; PERAMACHI PALANIVELU DR dated 2013-02-11, titled” KERATINASE BASED NANOFORMULATION FOR THE TREATMENT OF PSORIASIS” discloses a treatment for psoriasis (a skin disorder) with the keratinase enzyme based nanoformulation. Keratinase enzyme (EC 3.4.99.11) from the fungus Aspergillus parasiticus is purified to homogeneity by conventional techniques and used for making nanoformulation with the silver nanoparticles. The silver nanoparticles are biologically synthesized from the fungus Fusarium oxysporum. The keratinase nanoformulation is made by mixing the purified enzyme with silver nanoparticles and this nanoformulation is named as 'Nanozyme-K'. It is found that the silver nanoparticles did not have any inhibitory effect on the purified keratinase activity and in fact it improved the storage stability of the nanoformulation. Psoriatic samples are collected from patients and the psoriatic proteins are examined by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. It is confirmed by MALDI-MS analysis that all the psoriatic proteins belong to keratins of various types. The Nanozyme-K effectively digested the keratins of psoriatic scales which are confirmed by SDS-PAGE analysis. It is found that the keratinase nanoformulation degraded the psoriatic keratins completely and keratin bands are not observed after digestion in SDS-PAGE analysis. The efficacy of the Nanozyme-K was tested out on dermatitis induced BALB/c mice. About 36% reduction in ear swelling was observed after Nanozyme-K treatment. Thus, it confirms the Nanozyme-K possesses good antipsoriatic activity. As it is a gentle, non invasive technique it can be recommended for psoriatic patients even on long term basis without any possible side effects. Moreover, as it is a topical application, it will not have any possible adverse effect(s) like most of the drugs recommended.
[008] By reference to PCT application no. PCT/AU2021/051235 by Emyria dated 2021-10-22, titled” Use of cannabidiol for the treatment of psychological distress” discloses method of treating or preventing one or more symptoms of psychological distress in a subject comprising the step of: a) administering a dose of between 50 mg/day and 200 mg/day cannabidiol for at least one week; wherein the subject has symptoms of at least one of anxiety, stress and/or depression when assessed by a validated scale or biomarker for identifying symptoms of anxiety, stress and/or depression.
[009] By reference to US application no. US20220273628A1 by Universitaetsspital Basel USB dated 2022-02-15, titled” Effects of lysergic acid diethylamide (lsd) and of lsd analogs to assist psychotherapy for generalized anxiety disorder or other anxiety not related to life-threatening illness” discloses method of treating anxiety disorders specifically not associated with causes such as a life-threatening serious somatic illness, by administering a psychedelic to an individual, and treating anxiety and specifically causing reductions in the rating scale score measures of anxiety (STAI global or state or trait anxiety) and/or measures of depression (HDRS or BDI scores) and/or measures of general psychological distress (SCL-90 ratings) in the patient for several weeks beyond administration of the psychedelic. A method of treating anxiety, by administering a psychedelic (preferably LSD) to an individual having anxiety not associated with causes such as a life-threatening serious somatic illness, and inducing positive acute drug effects and positive long-term therapeutic effects in the individual.
[010] By reference to PCT application no. PCT/US2021/057198 by The Regents Of The University Of California dated 2021-10-29, titled” Compositions and methods for diagnosing and treating patients with a history of early life adversity” discloses compositions and methods for diagnosing patients with a history of early-life adversity (ELA), and for preventing, treating, or reducing psychological distress in patients with a history of ELA.
[011] However, none of the above-discussed inventions provides such a method for finding prevalence of psychological distress among cancer patients. The method comprising a plurality of steps.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:
[012] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows.
[013] The main object of the present invention is to provide a method for finding prevalence of psychological distress among cancer patients.
[014] Another object of the invention is to estimate the prevalence of anxiety and depression amongst cancer patients.
[015] Another object of the invention is to determine the association of socio-demographic factors with psychological distress.
[016] Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
[017] According to one aspect of our invention, a method for finding prevalence of psychological distress among cancer patients comprising the steps of: a) The data are collected using a pretested, semi-structured data collection tool, which included social-demographic information along with dietary habits and substance use history etc; b) Distress related information is gathered using HADS (hospital anxiety and depression scale); c) HADS is a 14-item questionnaire, consisting of two subscales: anxiety and depression; d) Each item is rated on a four-point scale, giving maximum scores of 21 for each anxiety and depression; e) Scores of 11 or more on either subscale are considered to be a significant ‘case’ of psychological morbidity, while scores of 8-10 represent ‘borderline’ and 0-7 ‘normal.
[018] In another aspect of the invention, the overall prevalence of psychological distress (anxiety/ distress/ both) among cancer patients is found to be 38.5%.
[019] In another aspect of the invention, psychological distress increased with the increasing age of the patients and this difference is found to be statistically significant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS:
[020] Reference will be made to embodiments of the invention, examples of which may be illustrated in accompanying figures. These figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Although the invention is generally described in the context of these embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these particular embodiments.
[021] Figure 1: illustrates a method for finding prevalence of psychological distress among cancer patients, as per an embodiment of the present invention.
[022] The referral numerals in the figures refer to: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 - steps of method for finding prevalence of psychological distress among cancer patients.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION:
[023] The present invention will now be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. While the following description details the preferred embodiments of the present invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of the parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings. With reference to the figures, the enclosed description and drawings are merely illustrative of preferred embodiments and represent several different ways of configuring the present invention. Although specific components, materials, configurations and uses of the present invention are illustrated and set forth in this disclosure, it should be understood that a number of variations to the components and to the configuration of those components described herein and in the accompanying figures can be made without changing the scope and function of the invention set forth herein.
[024] The present invention proposes a method for finding prevalence of psychological distress among cancer patients comprising the steps of: a) The data are collected using a pretested, semi-structured data collection tool, which included social-demographic information along with dietary habits and substance use history etc; b) Distress related information is gathered using HADS (hospital anxiety and depression scale); c) HADS is a 14-item questionnaire, consisting of two subscales: anxiety and depression; d) Each item is rated on a four-point scale, giving maximum scores of 21 for each anxiety and depression; e) Scores of 11 or more on either subscale are considered to be a significant ‘case’ of psychological morbidity, while scores of 8-10 represent ‘borderline’ and 0-7 ‘normal.
[025] The present invention as illustrated in Figure 1 provides another embodiment of the invention which includes a method for finding prevalence of psychological distress among cancer patients.
[026] In another embodiment, purposive sampling is used to select the hospital and recruiting patients. All eligible patients, giving written consent for the study are interviewed and distress related information is gathered using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The data are collected for two months and sample size of 208 is achieved. Data is entered in SPSS 22.0 and association of different variables with psychological distress is determined by chi-square test.

[027] In another embodiment, the mean age of the surveyed cancer patients is 51.05±15.68 years and the male female ratio is 1.7. Prevalence of psychological distress is found to be 38.5% and significantly more female patients than male patients (47.4% and 33.3% respectively) had distress. The association between psychological distress and increasing age, sex, literacy and employment status is found to be significant.
[028] In another embodiment, all the eligible cancer patients attending CRI for follow up are the potential candidates for the survey. The eligibility criteria included the diagnosis of any type of cancer in the preceding year of the survey, age 20 years and above and patient ready to give consent to participate in the study.
[029] In another embodiment, the data are collected using a pretested, semi-structured data collection tool, which included social-demographic information along with dietary habits and substance use history etc. Distress related information is gathered using HADS (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale).
[030] In another embodiment, HADS is a 14-item questionnaire, consisting of two subscales: anxiety and depression. 6 Each item is rated on a four-point scale, giving maximum scores of 21 for each anxiety and depression. Scores of 11 or more on either subscale are considered to be a significant ‘case’ of psychological morbidity, while scores of 8-10 represent ‘borderline’ and 0-7 ‘normal.
[031] In another embodiment, eligible candidates are approached in the waiting area of OPD of CRI and explained about the purpose of the study. Those patients who agreed for the study are interviewed using the pretested data collection format after obtaining written informed consent. The data is collected in 2 months between July 2017 to August, 2017 and a sample size of 208 is achieved.
[032] In another embodiment, collected data is entered in SPSS (22.0 version) and analysed. Percentages, mean, and standard deviations are calculated. The chi-square test is used to determine whether there is a significant relationship between categorical variables.
[033] The present disclosure described herein above has several technical advantages including, but not limited to,
? It is important to identify patients developing psychological distress during the course of treatment, so that appropriate actions can be taken in time.
[034] The disclosure has been described with reference to the accompanying embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein.
[035] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments so fully revealed the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the scope of the embodiments as described herein.

We Claim:

1. A method for finding prevalence of psychological distress among cancer patients comprising the steps of: a) The data are collected using a pretested, semi-structured data collection tool, which included social-demographic information along with dietary habits and substance use history etc; b) Distress related information is gathered using HADS (hospital anxiety and depression scale); c) HADS is a 14-item questionnaire, consisting of two subscales: anxiety and depression; d) Each item is rated on a four-point scale, giving maximum scores of 21 for each anxiety and depression; e) Scores of 11 or more on either subscale are considered to be a significant ‘case’ of psychological morbidity, while scores of 8-10 represent ‘borderline’ and 0-7 ‘normal.
2. The method for finding prevalence of psychological distress among cancer patients as claimed in claim 1, wherein the overall prevalence of psychological distress (anxiety/ distress/ both) among cancer patients is found to be 38.5%.
3. The method for finding prevalence of psychological distress among cancer patients as claimed in claim 1, wherein psychological distress increased with the increasing age of the patients and this difference is found to be statistically significant.
4. The method for finding prevalence of psychological distress among cancer patients as claimed in claim 1, wherein patients belonging to the highest strata of socio-economic status had significantly lesser psychological distress than all other categories combined (?2 -19.64, df-1, p<0.0001).