Changes in the prescription patterns of psychotropic drugs for cancer patients during a 10-year period

Abstract

The use of psychotropic drugs was studied in 200 cancer patients admitted to a medical oncology unit at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, in December 1987. When compared with a similar survey that studied prescription practices 10 years ago, there was a 30% increase in the use of psychotropic agents. Whereas prescription rates for different drug classes remained relatively stable, psychotropic drugs are now used for a greater range of reasons. The introduction of several new agents, especially short-acting benzodiazepines, has altered the physician's choices. Despite awareness of the different properties of psychotropic medications and their increased use, they are still underused, especially the antidepressants and antipsychotics when prescribed for psychologic distress.

Cancer-Related Fatigue and Sleep Disorders

“…Approximately 25%-50% of all prescriptions written for patients with cancer are for hypnotics [7,8]. Additionally, sleep disruptions can persist in cancer survivors for many years after diagnosis and completion of treatment, making it one of the most pervasive problems faced by patients with cancer [9,10].…”

Sleep dysfunction in patients with cancer

“…According to Derogatis et al [41,Class III], hypnotics are the most common medications prescribed to cancer patients, accounting for 48% of the total prescriptions, with "sleep" as the physician's stated reason for the prescription in 85% of the 814 total prescriptions analyzed. Similar results were found in another study, with 44% of approximately 400 prescriptions over 200 consecutive cancer clinic patients written for hypnotic medications [42,Class III]. This study also found that, compared with the rates published 10 years ago, there has been a general 30% increase in the prescription of psychotropic medications in cancer patients, with a greater range of reasons for the prescriptions.…”

Psychohematology. Attempt to Summarise

“…A high degree of resilience can help patients to adapt to their situation and to resume their everyday life [109] . The problem of MD in patients undergoing bone marrow t r a n s p l a n t a t i o n , a n d i s c l o s e l y r e l a t e d t o t h e i s s u e o f compliance [63,[110][111][112][113] . Improving the perception of pain and other subjective unbearable sensations that occur when performing such manipulations in patients (and especially in the context of comorbid depression [113] ) may violate compliance, which could result in rejection of invasive but necessary diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.…”

“…Improving the perception of pain and other subjective unbearable sensations that occur when performing such manipulations in patients (and especially in the context of comorbid depression [113] ) may violate compliance, which could result in rejection of invasive but necessary diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Of special importance is the problem of compliance in the case of patients with schizophrenia, because in these conditions, along with interventions for diseases of the blood must have an adequate psychopharmacotherapy [111,112] .…”