Anxiety and Depression in Patients with Colorectal Cancer Undergoing Ileostomy: A Systematic Review.

Colorectal cancer continues to be one of the most commonly occurring cancers in the Western world and in North America. Therefore, as expected, there is an increase in the rate of temporary or permanent stomas. The creation of a temporary or permanent ileostomy gives the patient the opportunity for a significantly prolonged period of survival. However, because this surgery permanently changes the patient's method of defecation and associated lifestyle behaviors, it can lead to anxiety and depression. Nevertheless, the amount of research in the field of anxiety and depression in ileostomy patients is rather limited. This chapter aims to investigate the anxiety and depression experienced by colorectal cancer patients undergoing ileostomy surgery. The studies conducted so far show that a large proportion of these patients experience anxiety and depression following the creation of an ileostomy together with the subsequent problems that occur following such surgery.