Psychiatric morbidity in cancer patients

One hundred and two patients of cancer were studied by two stage screening methods to detect the psychiatric morbidity in these patients. The General Health Questionnaire (60 item version) was used to detect the psychiatric morbidity. The psychiatric diagnosis was made according to DSM-IIIR criteria. Eighty seven patients (85.29%) were found to have psychiatric illness, depression being the commonest illness (45.10%). Anxiety disorder was present among 18.63% and other minor emotional disorders in 21.56%. Fifteen patients (14.71%) were found to be free from any psychiatric symptoms.