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Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology Advance Access published online on May 30, 2006
Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology, doi:10.1093/jjco/hyl029
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© 2006 Foundation for Promotion of Cancer Research
Received January 12, 2006
Accepted February 12, 2006

Short Communication

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

Tatsuo Akechi 1, Nobuya Akizuki 2, Masako Okamura 3, Ken Shimizu 4, Akira Oba 4, Tatsuhiko Ito 5, Eisho Yoshikawa 6, Tomohito Nakano 7, Masatoshi Inagaki 6, and Yosuke Uchitomi 6 *

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

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Yosuke Uchitomi, E-mail: yuchitom{at}east.ncc.go.jp


  Abstract

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.

Keywords: Cancer; family; psychiatric consultation; psychological distress.
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