Search

Introduction: In Belarus in recent years cancer morbidity increased from 402 in 2007 to 413,5 per thousand population in 2010. While oncological help is provided to the patients on a rather high level their psychological needs still remain ignored. Psychiatrists are working with cancer patient only in palliative care department. Provision with psychological and psychotherapeutic help at oncological departments is inadequate. The diagnosis of cancer is considered to be “unspeakable” among most oncologists and depression is considered to be “normal” for cancer patients. Objectives: To assess the need of cancer patients in specialized psychiatric help. Objects of the study: Patients (N=36) of specialized oncologic hospitals, departments of thoracal tumors with established diagnosis of bronchial pulmonary tract cancer. Methods: Clinical interview, Beck Depression Inventory, Freiburg Questionnaire of Coping with Illness. Results: The mean age of the sample was 62,1 years, two thirds were male. The prevalence of depressive states was the following: 33%- adjustment disorders, 5,5%- major depressive disorder, 13,9% -mild to moderate depressive symptoms. None of them received psychiatric consultation before research. 25% of patients were identified as having no psychiatric disorders. The main coping illness strategy was dissimulating meaning and impact with tendency toward denial of cancer (36%). Most of them didn’t asked doctors about their diagnosis. None of them had major depression. 8,3% of sample used depressive coping with self-pity, the same number used active coping. Conclusion: Improvement of psychiatric consulting of cancer patients at specialized oncologic hospitals is badly needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]