Abstract
Objective: To evaluate sociodemographic characteristics and symptoms of anxiety/depression in caregivers of children and adolescents diagnosed with malignant neoplasms. Methods: Prospective study, by convenience sampling, with caregivers of patients from 0 to 19 years of age undergoing cancer treatment, in a reference service in cancer health, in a capital of northeastern Brazil. The Beck Anxiety/Depression Inventory (BDI) was applied to assess the presence and level of anxiety depression of the caregiver and the Caregiver Burden Scale questionnaire to analyze general aspects of the caregiver's quality of life. Results: 45 caregivers participated in the study, with a predominance of the mother as caregiver (91.1%), mean age of 34 years and family income below the minimum wage. Most had severe symptoms of anxiety and signs of tendency according to the Grade I Stress level pattern with a low risk of physical and psychological symptoms. There was no association between anxiety levels and the caregiver's burden scale (p = 0.163). On the other hand, there is a correlation between depression and caregiver burden (p <0.001). Conclusion: Caregivers were observed with severe signs and symptoms of anxiety, mild depression, with low stress and without risk of physical and psychosomatic symptoms.