Assessment of and intervention for psychosocial problems in routine oncology practice

Abstract

Si.ary An audit was carried out of 51 oncology patients referred to a clinical psychology service to identify the characteristics of patients selected for referral and to assess change following psychological intervention. A survey was conducted of an unselected sample of oncology patients representative of the workload of the oncology department from which the referrals came, to determine the prevalence of comparable psychosocial problems among patients who were not referred for help and to assess whether doctors were aware of the problems patients reported. Data were collected using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) and Mental Adjustment to Cancer (MAC) scales and a problem checklist devised for this study. Referred patients were significantly more anxious and depressed (P<0.001) and showed poorer adjustment on MAC scales than the surveyed sample, but 30% of the latter group warranted assessment for anxiety and 23% for depression. The number of psychosocial problems was the best single predictor of clinically significant mood disorder irrespective of the specific problems of their severity. Intervention was associated with a significant improvement in distress and problems for referred patients by the time of discharge. Psychosocial problems were often undetected by staff even in referred patients. The checklist is a feasible screening method for potentially remediable problems which are cumulatively a significant contributor to cancer patients' distress.

Psychological distress after cancer cure: a survey of 459 Hodgkin's disease survivors

“…Detecting psychiatric problems before and during treatment is part of the clinician's duties, but such problems often remain undetected (Maguire, 1985;Cull et al, 1995). A past psychiatric history increases the risk for distress among cancer patients (Harrison and Maguire, 1994).…”

Validating automated screening for psychological distress by means of computer touchscreens for use in routine oncology practice

“…These problems often go undetected and untreated in routine oncology practice (Maguire, 1985;Cull et al, 1995;Berard et al, 1998;Newell et al, 1998;Fallowfield et al, 2001). Psychological comorbidity is associated with an increased symptom burden, greater disability, poorer quality of life, reduced compliance with medical treatment and a poorer medical outcome for patient (Ramirez and House, 1997).…”

What do cancer patients mean when they complain of concentration and memory problems?

“…In a recent survey of psychosocial problems among a mixed group of cancer patients (Cull et al, 1995), 49% complained of cognitive impairment, i.e. problems with concentration and/or memory, which were rated moderate to severe by 21%.…”