Background: Few longitudinal studies have investigated psychiatric disorders in patients with unresectable nonsmall cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). This study addressed three questions: 1) Which psychiatric disorders are prevalent among patients with unresectable NSCLC? 2) What is the clinical course of psychological distress? 3) Which factors are associated with this distress, and do any antecedent variables predict subsequent psychological distress?
Methods: A series of 129 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed, unresectable NSCLC participated. Psychiatric assessments were conducted by using the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 3rd edition revised between the time of diagnosis and initial treatment for NSCLC (baseline) and 6 months after diagnosis (follow-up). Potential associated and predictive variables, including sociodemographic, biomedical, and psychosocial factors, were explored.
Results: The most common psychiatric disorder at baseline was nicotine dependence (67%), followed by adjustment disorders (14%), alcohol dependence (13%), and major depression (5%). At follow-up, adjustment disorders were diagnosed in 16% of patients, and major depression was diagnosed in 3% of patients. Thirty-five percent of patients who experienced depressive disorders (adjustment disorders and/or major depression) at baseline continued to experience the same disorders at follow-up. Multivariate analysis revealed that relatively younger age and pain were associated significantly with psychological distress at baseline. Only self-reported anxiety and depression at baseline could predict subsequent psychological distress.
Conclusions: Substance dependence and depressive disorders are common psychiatric disorders in patients with unresectable NSCLC. Although this form of malignant disease often is progressive, depressive disorders do not seem to increase during its clinical course. Pain management is essential for alleviating patients' depressive disorders, and self-rating depression and anxiety seems to be an indicator of subsequent depressive disorders.
Copyright 2001 American Cancer Society.