杏吧论坛

Humans have always had to deal with diseases. The course of a disease, that is, the path it follows from onset to end, can vary tremendously, depending largely on the individual and the treatment he or she receives. The concept of caring for those afflicted with a disease or illness later on progressed into another practice known as Nursing. This study aims to determine whether there is a difference in the prevalence, severity, and manifestations of anxiety and depression in poor, average, and well-off patients diagnosed with chronic diseases.

Anxiety is an emotional state in which people feel uneasy, apprehensive, or fearful. People usually experience anxiety about events they cannot control or predict, or about events that seem threatening or dangerous. On the other hand, depression is a mental illness in which a person experiences deep, unshakable sadness and diminished interest in nearly all activities.

杏吧论坛 75 respondents were chosen for the study regardless of the income that they earn or the social status that they belong and these respondents have been diagnosed with a chronic disease or illness, or those diseases has lasted for more than six months since the day of its diagnosis. Varied figures in anxiety and depression scoring indicated a similarity in the responses of respondents from the Well-off and Less fortunate category unlike those responses exhibited by respondents form the Average category. Contrary to previous studies conducted which indicated that anxiety is on average higher among lower social class individual than among middle class individuals (Lewis et al.). Respondents from the Average category (middle class) exhibited high anxiety and depression scoring when compared to those respondents from the Well-off and Less-fortunate categories.