The evaluation of psychiatric disorders related to cancer has been the object of intense research in psycho-oncology. Psychopathological disturbances have an average prevalence of 35-45% and may be classified as “classical” psychiatric disorders (e.g. adjustment, anxiety, depressive disorders) and neuropsychiatric disorders (e.g. cognitive disorders secondary to treatment, delirium). Several problems have emerged in using the most common nosological systems, such as ICD and DSM, because of their limits in specificity/sensitivity and in catching certain clinically significant dimensions (e.g. health anxiety, demoralization, irritable mood), which can be identified through other systems, such as the Diagnostic Criteria for Psychosomatic Research. The need to monitor psychosocial morbidity (“caseness”) in cancer has determined the development of screening tools, that have shown good levels of sensitivity and specificity. Amongst the psychopathological conditions which are strongly related to biological factors, the most common are cognitive disorders secondary to treatment (chemo-brain) and delirium. The knowledge of the risk factors for both psychiatric and neuropsychiatric syndromes, including some specific problems, such as suicide, should be part of the training of health care professionals working in cancer centres. Furthermore, the barriers that still prevent a global care to cancer patients should be identified and overcome.

Psychiatric disorders related to cancer: prevalence, etiology and recognition

CARUSO, Rosangela;MORELLI, Anna Clara;NANNI, Maria Giulia;BIANCOSINO, Bruno;GRASSI, Luigi
2012

Abstract

The evaluation of psychiatric disorders related to cancer has been the object of intense research in psycho-oncology. Psychopathological disturbances have an average prevalence of 35-45% and may be classified as “classical” psychiatric disorders (e.g. adjustment, anxiety, depressive disorders) and neuropsychiatric disorders (e.g. cognitive disorders secondary to treatment, delirium). Several problems have emerged in using the most common nosological systems, such as ICD and DSM, because of their limits in specificity/sensitivity and in catching certain clinically significant dimensions (e.g. health anxiety, demoralization, irritable mood), which can be identified through other systems, such as the Diagnostic Criteria for Psychosomatic Research. The need to monitor psychosocial morbidity (“caseness”) in cancer has determined the development of screening tools, that have shown good levels of sensitivity and specificity. Amongst the psychopathological conditions which are strongly related to biological factors, the most common are cognitive disorders secondary to treatment (chemo-brain) and delirium. The knowledge of the risk factors for both psychiatric and neuropsychiatric syndromes, including some specific problems, such as suicide, should be part of the training of health care professionals working in cancer centres. Furthermore, the barriers that still prevent a global care to cancer patients should be identified and overcome.
2012
Caruso, Rosangela; Morelli, Anna Clara; Nanni, Maria Giulia; Biancosino, Bruno; Grassi, Luigi
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11392/1533383
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