[Psychiatry and dermatologic neoplasms: results of an experimental study]

Psycho-oncology has developed during the past decades in the area of medical oncology directly involved in the study of the psychological aspects of cancer. In this study the authors focused in particular on the psychopathological complications of dermatological cancer, the discovery of a possible history of psychiatric disorders prior to the diagnosis of the tumour, the predictive value of the latter concerning further psychiatric complications during cancer, and lastly the possible correlations between stress and the onset of cancer and between religious belief and adaptive strategies. A total of 30 patients suffering from dermatological neoplasia were examined within the setting of a Psychiatric Liaison Service. HDRS and STAI X-1 and 2 were used as psychodiagnostic aids to evaluate the level of depression and anxiety, together with an interview for the clinical evaluation of the patient ad possible life events of particular importance. It was found that 10% of patients conformed to the criteria for the diagnosis of dysthymia and 10% for adaption disorders, and that there was also a high rate of pathological values for status anxiety (66%). These results show that this type of disease is particularly subject to risk for psychiatric complications.