The Prevalence of Psychiatric Disorders Among Cancer Patients

TLDR

A cross‑sectional study of 215 newly admitted cancer patients used structured psychiatric interviews and standardized tests, applying the DSM‑III to determine formal psychiatric disorders. Forty‑seven percent of patients received a DSM‑III diagnosis, most of which were adjustment disorders (68%) or major affective disorders (13%), with 85% of those cases centered on depression or anxiety, and the majority were considered highly treatable. JAMA 1983;249:751‑757.

Abstract

Two hundred fifteen randomly accessed cancer patients who were new admissions to three collaborating cancer centers were examined for the presence of formal psychiatric disorder. Each patient was assessed in a common protocol via a psychiatric interview and standardized psychological tests. The American Psychiatric Association's<i>DSM-III</i>diagnostic system was used in making the diagnoses. Results indicated that 47% of the patients received a<i>DSM-III</i>diagnosis, with 44% being diagnosed as manifesting a clinical syndrome and 3% with personality disorders. Approximately 68% of the psychiatric diagnoses consisted of adjustment disorders, with 13% representing major affective disorders (depression). The remaining diagnoses were split among organic mental disorders (8%), personality disorders (7%), and anxiety disorders (4%). Approximately 85% of those patients with a positive psychiatric condition were experiencing a disorder with depression or anxiety as the central symptom. The large majority of conditions were judged to represent highly treatable disorders. (<i>JAMA</i>1983;249:751-757)