Background Psychiatric morbidity is common among cancer patients. In our setting, psychosocial and clinical factors associated with psychiatric
morbidity in these patients are yet to be well studied.
Aims The study was aimed at determining the factors that are associated with psychiatric morbidity among patients with cancer in a Nigerian tertiary hospital.
Method Over a 6-month period, all consenting consecutive patients who were diagnosed with cancer and admitted into the surgical and gynaecological wards were interviewed using the Present State Examination tPSE), a sociodemographic and a clinical data collection sheet.
Results The prevalence of psychiatric morbidity among the 63 patients studied was 44.4% (28 of 63 patients). Four (6.3% ) had adjustment
disorders. 5 (7.9%) had generalized anxiety disorder, 4 (6.3%) had delirium, one (1.6%) organic hallucinosis, one (1.6%) schizophrenia-like disorder, 13 (20.6%) had depressive illness with 2 (3.2%)having deliberately harmed themselves. There was a significant association between
psychiatricmorbidity and, a feeling that friends have been not been of help since onset of illness (X2 = 4.12; p=0.03) and more evidence of
radiological spread of disease (X2 = 0.43; p =0.005). Though not to a significant level, reduced income since onset of illness, worry about
finances, less religious and social activities, allay of concern through explanation of nature of illness by doctors, less satisfaction with overall personal relationship, past history of psychiatric illness, and co-morbidity in terms of hypertension and diabetes were observed.
Conclusion There was a significant association between psychiatric morbidity on one hand and a feeling that friends have been not been of help since onset of illness, increased evidence of radiological spread of disease and formal counselling during the index admission. We suggest a need for better communication and counselling of cancer patients and more social support of the patients, not just by family members, blit also friends and significant others.
Key words: Key words Predictive factors; Cancer; Nigeria
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