DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY 25:730–736 (2008) Research Article THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN QUALITY OF LIFE AND LEVELS OF HOPELESSNESS AND DEPRESSION IN PALLIATIVE CARE Kyriaki Mystakidou, M.D., Ph.D., 1Ã Eleni Tsilika, B.Sc., M.Sc., 1 Efi Parpa, B.A., M.A., 1 Maria Pathiaki, M.D., 1 Antonis Galanos, B.Sc., 1 and Lambros Vlahos, M.D., Ph.D. 2 There is growing interest in the psychological distress and quality of life of cancer patients. The aim of this study was to compare the responses of 102 advanced cancer patients on a quality of life scale (as measured by the SF12) with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), as well as the impact of depression and hopelessness on quality of life. Significant associations were found between gender (P 5.027), performance status (P 5.003), opioids (P 5.002), depression (Po .0005), and hopelessness (Po .0005) with the SF12- Mental Component Score (MCS). Gender (P 5.07), metastasis (P 5.001), opioids (P 5.0005), and education (P 5.045) correlated significantly with SF12-Physical Component Score (PCS). In the prediction of MCS, the dimensions of age, hopelessness, gender, and performance status were statistically significantly high (Po .0005), explaining 48% of variance. For PCS, the predictor variables were education, metastasis, and opioids (25% of variance). Quality of life, in this patient population, was predicted by the level of hopelessness and patients’ demographic and clinical characteristics. Depression and Anxiety 25:730–736, 2008. r 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. Key words: advanced cancer patients; SF-12; BDI; BHS; psychological morbidity INTRODUCTION Quality of life (QoL) in oncology patients has gained increasing attention during the past 10 years, in part due to the nature and impact of the recommended treatment options [Hahn et al., 2003]. QoL has also been linked to continuity of care, adherence to medical advice, and even length of survival [Mousas, 2003; Roila and Cortesi, 2001]. At the same time, palliative care has evolved as one of the few areas within modern medicine that is still expanding [Axelsson and Sjo ¨de ¨n, 1999]. QoL is the fundamental endpoint in palliative care [Finlay and Dunlop, 1994]. Many studies have documented the perception and experience of QoL among people with significant extended medical illness and among their caretakers by examining stressors, and, particularly, changes in life- style that occur in correlation with the course of medical illness [Hahn et al., 2003]. To the extent of alleviating suffering and improving end-of-life care, an emphasis on physical pain and symptom management that ignores psychological aspects may be seriously limited in effectiveness [Werth et al., 2002]. Psycholo- gical well-being is an essential element of QoL and has Published online 7 June 2007 in Wiley InterScience (www. interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/da.20319 Received for publication 25 April 2006; Revised 16 August 2006; Accepted 24 January 2007 Ã Correspondence to: Dr. Kyriaki Mystakidou, Pain Relief and Palliative Care Unit, Department of Radiology, Areteion Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, 27 Korinthias Street, 11526 Athens, Greece. E-mail: mistakidou@yahoo.com 1 Pain Relief and Palliative Care Unit, Department of Radiology, Areteion Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece 2 Radiology Department, Areteion Hospital, University of Athens, School of Medicine, Athens, Greece r r 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.