[Psychiatric symptom in cancer patients requiring immediate management]

Delirium and major depression are frequently seen in cancer patients. These disorders result in a serious situation, sometimes preventing safe medical treatment, making for difficult decision making in treatment, causing prolonged hospital stays, in association with distress for family members and medical staff and other major problems including suicidal behavior. On the other hand, underestimation and undertreatment of these psychiatric disorders are often reported, so psychiatric problems in cancer, may becomes serious state without being noticed by the medical staff. Psychiatric problems in cancer patients have multidimensional aspects, not only psychological, but also biological, including association of medical treatment, and social aspects like economic problems. Furthermore, cancer itself reportedly brings a risk of suicide. In these situations, there must be no hesitation in obtaining psychiatric consultation. It is important to develop a network between medical staff and psychiatric services, to communicate with medical staff about psychiatric problems, and to screen psychiatric problem in cancer patients.