Longitudinal analysis of psychiatric morbidity in cancer patients

About one third of cancer patients suffers from a psychiatric disorder. However, only few studies feature long-term assessment of psychiatric disease in cancer patients, covering a broad range of diagnoses, and employing high-quality instruments.

A total of 62 patients underwent assessments during a 3-year follow-up period after initial cancer diagnosis. The Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) was used to measure psychiatric morbidity at baseline (t1) and 2 follow-up assessments (t2 and t3). Follow-up assessments took place between 6 and 18 months (t2) and between 24 and 36 months (t3) after baseline measurement.

At t1, at least one DSM-IV diagnosis was found in 29% of the patients. During follow-up, the frequency of psychiatric morbidity increased to 36% at t2 and 44% at t3. New occurrence of psychiatric disease during follow-up was 18% at t2 and 38% at t3.

Persistence and number of newly diagnosed psychiatric disorders during the first 3 years after cancer treatment should be considered in the treatment of cancer patients, especially in individuals with according predictive factors.