J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2012 Nov;51(6):387-394.

Clinical Characteristics and Use of Antidepressants among Cancer Patients Referred for Psychiatric Consultation : A Korean Multicenter Survey

• Park JS
• Ha J
• Lim S
• Kim TS
• Ha JH
• Paik JW
• Lee BC
• Choe BM
• Lee KJ
• Kim SW
• Yang JC
• Ko YH
• Oh KS

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Antidepressants are frequently used for treatment of psychological distress among cancer patients. The aim of this study is to investigate the characteristics of psychiatric consultations and antidepressant use for cancer patients.
METHODS
Participants in the study included cancer patients who had been referred for psychiatric consultation. A total of 488 patients were recruited from nine general hospitals in Korea. Questionnaires based on medical records, including antidepressants prescribed, were investigated by psychiatrists.
RESULTS
The most common psychiatric diagnosis of subjects was depressive disorders (72.4%), followed by anxiety disorders (13.0%), and adjustment disorders (7.3%). Antidepressants were prescribed for 96.3% of subjects and escitalopram, mirtazapine, and paroxetine were prescribed frequently, in order. Anxiolytics and hypnotics were used for 58.2% of the subjects, for which lorazepam and alprozolam were preferred. During the study period, 226 (46.8%) subjects discontinued treatment and the most common cause was improvement of symptoms (123, 54.4%).
CONCLUSION
Our results showed a tendency of prescription of antidepressants and anxiolytics and common psychiatric problems in Korean cancer patients. We suppose that these data would be helpful to clinicians who manage psychiatric symptoms of cancer patients.

Keyword

Cancer; Antidepressant; Prescription pattern; Psychiatric consultation

MeSH Terms

Adjustment Disorders
Anti-Anxiety Agents
Antidepressive Agents
Anxiety Disorders
Citalopram
Depressive Disorder
Hospitals, General
Humans
Hypnotics and Sedatives
Korea
Lorazepam
Medical Records
Mental Disorders
Mianserin
Paroxetine
Prescriptions
Surveys and Questionnaires
Referral and Consultation
Anti-Anxiety Agents
Antidepressive Agents
Citalopram
Hypnotics and Sedatives
Lorazepam
Mianserin
Paroxetine

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