Vol 8, No 2 (2012)
Review paper
Published online: 2012-06-27
Psychiatric disorders in the elderly cancer patients
Onkol. Prak. Klin 2012;8(2):45-51.
Abstract
Emotional problems are frequent among cancer patients. The most common are depressive episodes of
different severity usually requiring treatment. Since more than 60% malignancies affect elderly, psychiatric
disorders prevalent in this age group such as dementia, delirium and anxiety should be considered in
assessment of patient mental status. These disorders are often diagnosed concomitantly with cancer,
but also their symptoms can be associated with malignacy and/or be side effects of treatment. Proper
diagnosis of mental disorders provides the opportunity for effective psychiatric therapeutic intervention
which contributes to optimalization of antineoplastic treatment and improvement of patients well being.
different severity usually requiring treatment. Since more than 60% malignancies affect elderly, psychiatric
disorders prevalent in this age group such as dementia, delirium and anxiety should be considered in
assessment of patient mental status. These disorders are often diagnosed concomitantly with cancer,
but also their symptoms can be associated with malignacy and/or be side effects of treatment. Proper
diagnosis of mental disorders provides the opportunity for effective psychiatric therapeutic intervention
which contributes to optimalization of antineoplastic treatment and improvement of patients well being.
Keywords: psychiatric disorderscancerelderly