Psychological distress in cancer patients attending the European Instituteof Oncology in Milan

Background: The determination of the extent and specific features of the ps ychological distress to be expected in a cancer centre may influence the ch oice of interventions to be implemented for addressing these problems. This study was aimed at estimating the prevalence of psychological distress in patients attending a second reference cancer centre in Milan (Italy), and a t identifying associated factors. Patients and Methods: 190 consecutive pat ients were assessed within 3 days of hospital discharge using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Results: Major depressive disorders or genera lised anxiety disorders were estimated in 16% of the patients. Only 2 of th ese patients were referred to the psyche-oncology unit, hence the psycholog ical distress of many patients was not considered during their hospital sta y. In the multiple regression analysis, independent predictors of psycholog ical distress were female gender, experience of disturbance in family and s ocial life due to illness, nausea and vomiting, and perception of being in a poor state of health (R-2 = 0.31, p value < 0.001), while physical functi oning, fatigue and pain, significant factors in univariate analysis (p < 0. 05), sociodemographic and clinical factors were not predictors. Conclusion: The psycho-oncology team should focus on helping doctors and nurses identi fy the patients' psychological problems, dealing with them or making a refe rral. Copyright (C) 1999 S. Karger AG, Basel.