Cancer and severe mental illness: Bi-directional problems and potential solutions

Given the reported increased rates of physical morbidity and higher mortality rates among people with severe mental illness (SMI) (schizophrenia and severe mood disorders), with a life expectancy shorter of 15-20 years with respect to the general population, the aim of this paper was to call attention to the problem of cancer in SMI.

We conducted a narrative review of the most significant papers published in the areas of cancer screening, incidence, mortality and palliative care in SMI.

Data from the literature confirm disparities in screening (eg, mammography; pap-smear test; colorectal cancer screening) and prevention (eg, clinical breast examination; smoking cessation). The incidence of cancer was found to be variable with a portion of the studies reporting a higher prevalence while others a similar or a lower prevalence of cancer compared to the general population. A lower percentage of patients with SMI received proper cancer treatment resulting in survival after cancer diagnosis significantly worse than people without SMI. Likewise, end-of-life care has been shown to be lacking with poorer levels of physical, psychological and spiritual care.

The problems of stigma and discrimination, poorer dignity, poorer health behavior, lack of integration in health-care services for people with SMI needs to be addressed and solved in cancer care. Psycho-oncology has a very specific and mandatory role in integrating the recommendation of the World Health Organization to improve the links between oncology and mental health settings for more specific psycho-oncology programs addressed for this vulnerable segment of the population.