Twelve-Month and Lifetime Prevalence of Mental Disorders in Cancer Patients.

Background: Psychological problems are common in cancer patients. For the purpose of planning psycho-oncological interventions and services tailored to the specific needs of different cancer patient populations, it is necessary to know to what extent psychological problems meet the criteria of mental disorders. The purpose of this study was to estimate the 12-month and lifetime prevalence rates of mental disorders in cancer patients.

Utilization of professional psychological care in a large German sample of cancer patients.

Objective: Although one-third of cancer patients are perceived to have a need for psychological support based on the percentage of mental disorders, little is known about the actual utilization of psychological care in cancer. We aimed to assess cancer patients' reported use of psychological care and its correlates in a large, representative sample.

Methods: In a multicenter, cross-sectional study in Germany, 4020 cancer patients (mean age 58 years, 51% women) were evaluated.

Perceived need for psychosocial support depending on emotional distress and mental comorbidity in men and women with cancer.

Objective: Although elevated levels of distress are supposed to constitute a need for psychosocial support, the relation between elevated distress and need for support does not appear to be straightforward. We aimed to determine cancer patients' perceived need for psychosocial support, and examine the relation of need to both self-reported emotional distress and the interview-based diagnosis of a mental disorder.

Methods: In a multicenter, cross-sectional study in Germany, 4020 cancer patients (mean age 58 years, 51% women) were evaluated.

STRESSORS, SYMPTOM PROFILE, AND PREDICTORS OF ADJUSTMENT DISORDER IN CANCER PATIENTS. RESULTS FROM AN EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY WITH THE COMPOSITE INTERNATIONAL DIAGNOSTIC INTERVIEW, ADAPTATION FOR ONCOLOGY (CIDI-O).

Background: We aimed to investigate type and frequency of stressors, predominant symptom profiles, and predictors of adjustment disorders (AD) in cancer patients across major tumor entities.

Methods: In this epidemiological study, we examined 2,141 cancer patients out of 4,020 screened with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview, adaptation for oncology (CIDI-O). AD were operationalized as subthreshold disorders according to DSM-IV criteria.

Satisfaction with information and unmet information needs in men and women with cancer.

Purpose: Information needs in cancer patients are high but often not fulfilled. This study aimed to examine the level of perceived information, information satisfaction, and unmet needs in a large sample of cancer patients. Further, we explored associations with emotional distress and quality of life accounting for gender.

Four-week prevalence of mental disorders in patients with cancer across major tumor entities.

Purpose: To provide the 4-week prevalence estimates of mental disorders in cancer populations.

Patients And Methods: We enrolled adult patients with cancer from in- and outpatient care facilities, using a proportional stratified random sample based on the nationwide cancer incidence in Germany. Patients who scored 9 or above on the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) were administered to the standardized computer-assisted Composite International Diagnostic Interview for mental disorders adapted for cancer patients (CIDI-O).

[Adaptation of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) for the assessment of comorbid mental disorders in oncology patients: the CIDI-O].

This article describes the development of an oncology-specific adaptation of the Composite Diagnostic International Interview (CIDI) for the assessment of comorbid mental disorders in cancer patients. The specific problems related to the assessment of mental disorders in cancer patients are described, in particular the overlap of somatic and mental symptoms as well as the insufficiently elaborated assessment of adjustment disorders and cancer related posttraumatic stress using structured and standardized procedures. The modification strategies that fostered the development of the CIDI-Oncology (CIDI-O) are described.