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Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology Advance Access originally published online on May 30, 2006
Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology 2006 36(5):329-332; doi:10.1093/jjco/hyl029
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© 2006 Foundation for Promotion of Cancer Research

Short Communication

Psychological Distress Experienced by Families of Cancer Patients: Preliminary Findings from Psychiatric Consultation of a Cancer Center Hospital

Tatsuo Akechi1,2, Nobuya Akizuki2,3, Masako Okamura2,4, Ken Shimizu2, Akira Oba2, Tatsuhiko Ito2,5, Eisho Yoshikawa2,3, Tomohito Nakano4, Masatoshi Inagaki2,3 and Yosuke Uchitomi2,3

1 Department of Psychiatry and Cognitive-Behavioral Medicine, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, 2 Psychiatry Division and 3 Psycho-Oncology Division, Research Center for Innovative Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Chiba, 4 Psychiatry Division, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo and 5 Department of Psychiatry, Kashiwa Hospital, Jikei Medical University, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan

For reprints and all correspondence: Yosuke Uchitomi, Psycho-Oncology Division, Research Center for Innovative Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, 6-5-1 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa 277-8577, Japan. E-mail: yuchitom{at}east.ncc.go.jp

Received January 12, 2006; accepted February 12, 2006

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to obtain preliminary findings regarding psychiatric disorders and background characteristics among Japanese family members of cancer patients.

Methods: We investigated the psychiatric diagnosis and background factors of family members of cancer patients by analyzing the consultation data of patients referred to the Psychiatry Division, National Cancer Centre Hospital East, Japan.

Results: Of a total of 1469 psychiatric consultation, 47 (3.2%) family members were referred, and 85% of them were spouses. The most common patient cancer site was the lung. Approximately one-half of the referred family encountered patients' end-of-life issues. The most common psychiatric diagnoses were adjustment disorders, followed by major depression.

Conclusions: These preliminary findings suggest that psychosocial support for family members is not fully delivered and development of a comprehensive support system for caregivers of cancer patients is an urgent issue in the clinical oncology setting in Japan.

Key Words: Cancer • family • psychiatric consultation • psychological distress


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