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Predictors of psychiatric morbidity in cancer patients
1Royal Preston Hospital.
Background:
A significant proportion of cancer patients experience psychiatric morbidity in association with diagnosis and treatment. If this morbidity is to be reduced, a better understanding is needed of the factors which influence adjustment to cancer.
Method:
A review of the literature was carried out to explore those factors associated with poor psychological adjustment to cancer. These are described under four heading: characteristics of the patient; disease and treatment variables; the interaction between patient and illness; and environmental factors.
Results:
A number of risk factors for psychiatric morbidity can be identified from each of the four areas. Methodological limitations are highlighted, in particular the preponderance of cross-sectional study designs.
Conclusions:
Increased awareness of the risk factors for psychiatric morbidity should lead to earlier detection and more appropriate treatment. Future research should focus on those risk factors which are potentially modifiable.