Citation

Yeung WS. Hong Kong Practitioner 1997; 19(8): 403-407.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

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Abstract

Psychiatric symptoms are common in cancer patients. It is caused both by the pathophysiologic change of bodily functions resulting from the cancer and the adjustment reactions to the cancer and the subsequent treatment process including chemotherapy and radiotherapy. These can lead to excessive distress for the patient and carer, sometimes with unjustified guilt feeling and exaggerated functional impairments. The patient might also not comply with the treatment offered. Apart from psychosocial support, there are effective medications against depressive and anxiety symptoms. Major tranquilizers are useful for controlling organic psychotic symptoms and sedating patients. In order to improve the quality of life of patients and their carers, early identification and treatment of these psychiatric symptoms are important.

Language: en