Unaddressed Psych Disorders Common with Cancer

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A study shows that about one of every ten adults with advanced cancer are plagued by major psychiatric disorders, yet many cancer patients with mental health problems aren't getting help from a mental health professional, according to the study.

This finding speaks to the need for cancer doctors and patients to discuss psychological concerns during cancer care.

"Willingness on the part of the patient did not seem to be a barrier to mental health service use," Dr. Nina S. Kadan-Lottick from Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut told Reuters Health, noting that "93 percent of the patients in the study who met criteria for a psychiatric disorder stated that they would pursue mental health services if they were aware that they had a problem."

In the study, the researchers determined the rate of psychiatric disorders and the use of mental health services in some 250 adults with advanced cancer participating in the "Coping with Cancer Study," an ongoing NIH-funded multicenter study of advanced cancer patients and caregivers.

Trained interviewers used established diagnostic tools to spot various psychiatric disorders including depression, anxiety disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD.

Overall, 12 percent of the cancer patients met criteria for a major psychiatric illness -- 5 percent suffered panic attacks -- yet only 45 percent of affected patients accessed mental health services, according to a report in the journal Cancer.

"In our study of advanced cancer patients undergoing cancer therapy, fewer than half of the patients with active major psychiatric complaints received care from a mental health provider," Kadan-Lottick noted in comments to Reuters Health.

Caucasian cancer patients and patients who had discussed their psychological concerns with mental health staff were much more likely than others to receive mental health care.

"Our study," the authors write, "identified the underutilization of mental health services among advanced cancer patients." They encourage patients with cancer to discuss their mental health with their doctors, noting that if left untreated, psychiatric disorders may have a harmful effect on compliance with cancer therapy and overall outcome.

SOURCE: Cancer, online November 14, 2005.