Cancer patients need mental help

Study: Every third cancer patient needs mental help

13/10/2014

Fear, adjustment difficulties, depression: Many cancer patients are struggling with these and other mental health problems. One in three of them is affected, according to a new study. In addition to oncological care, patients also need emotional help adapted to the type of cancer.

Every third cancer patient needs mental help
The three most common mental health problems that cancer patients face alongside their illness are anxiety, adjustment difficulties, and depression. Every third cancer patient needs mental help: This is the result of a study published on Monday under the auspices of the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE). More than 4,000 patients between the ages of 18 and 75 were surveyed nationwide for the study. The results have now been published in the prestigious US trade magazine „Journal of Clinical Oncology“ released.

Impact on success of medical therapy
An untreated mental disorder may, at worst, be detrimental to the success of medical therapy. „On average, 32 percent of all cancer patients we interviewed in clinical interviews needed psycho-oncological help“, explained Professor Anja Mehnert, Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology of the University Hospital Leipzig and Study Coordinator, in a press release. „Some patients even had more than one mental disorder: about six percent of respondents suffered from two different disorders, while one and a half percent of participants were even diagnosed with three or more disorders.“

Numerous psychological burdens
The most common psychological stressors of cancer patients are anxiety disorders: fear of the disease, before therapy and the possibility of dying. This is followed by adjustment disorders and depressive disorders. Also included were physical discomfort caused by the stress of the disease and alcohol dependence in the range of mental disorders. At 42 percent, psychological side effects are particularly common in breast cancer patients as well as in patients with head and neck cancer (41 percent) or so-called black skin cancer (39 percent)..

Adapt psychic help of cancer type
„The type of cancer in which the person is affected plays an important role not only in medical therapy but also in psycho-oncological treatment. Many other factors, such as age or social environment, also need to be considered“, explained Professor Uwe Koch-Gromus, Dean of the Medical Faculty of the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf and head of the study. „Therefore, every patient needs a tailored treatment on a psychological level.“

„Health policy and payers demanded“
Gerd Nettekoven, Chief Executive of the German Cancer Aid, emphasized: „For a needs-based supply in this country, however, still lack the necessary supply structures and their financing. Health policy and payers are still required here.“ The particular issue of how respondents respond to deadly diagnoses has not been addressed. Such a diagnosis is generally a shock to patients and can lead to other mental health problems such as panic attacks, anxiety disorders or depression. (Ad)