J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc JKNA Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association 1015-4817 Korean Neuropsychiatric Association 10.4306/jknpa.2012.51.6.387 Original Article Clinical Characteristics and Use of Antidepressants among Cancer Patients Referred for Psychiatric Consultation : A Korean Multicenter Survey Park Jin-Seong MD 1 Ha Juwon MD 1 Lim Sewon MD PhD 1 Kim Tae-Suk MD PhD 2 Ha Jee Hyun MD PhD 3 Paik Jong-Woo MD PhD 4 Lee Boung Chul MD PhD 5 Choe Byeong Moo MD PhD 6 Lee Kang-Joon MD PhD 7 Kim Sung-Wan MD PhD 8 Yang Jong-Chul MD PhD 9 Ko Young-Hoon MD PhD 10 Oh Kang-Seob MD PhD 1 Department of Psychiatry, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. Department of Psychiatry, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea. Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea. Department of Psychiatry, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. Department of Psychiatry, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea. Department of Psychiatry, Ilsanpaik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea. Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun, Korea. Department of Psychiatry, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Korea. Department of Psychiatry, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. Address for correspondence: Kang-Seob Oh, MD, PhD. Department of Psychiatry, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 29 Saemunan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-746, Korea. Tel +82-2-2001-2214, Fax +82-2-2001-2211, Ks2485@empal.com 11 2012 30 11 2012 51 6 387 394 04 10 2011 20 04 2012 28 09 2012 Copyright © 2012 Korean Neuropsychiatric Association 2012 Objectives

Antidepressants are frequently used for treatment of psychological distress among cancer patients. The aim of this study is to investigate the characteristics of psychiatric consultations and antidepressant use for cancer patients.

 Methods

Participants in the study included cancer patients who had been referred for psychiatric consultation. A total of 488 patients were recruited from nine general hospitals in Korea. Questionnaires based on medical records, including antidepressants prescribed, were investigated by psychiatrists.

 Results

The most common psychiatric diagnosis of subjects was depressive disorders (72.4%), followed by anxiety disorders (13.0%), and adjustment disorders (7.3%). Antidepressants were prescribed for 96.3% of subjects and escitalopram, mirtazapine, and paroxetine were prescribed frequently, in order. Anxiolytics and hypnotics were used for 58.2% of the subjects, for which lorazepam and alprozolam were preferred. During the study period, 226 (46.8%) subjects discontinued treatment and the most common cause was improvement of symptoms (123, 54.4%).

 Conclusion

Our results showed a tendency of prescription of antidepressants and anxiolytics and common psychiatric problems in Korean cancer patients. We suppose that these data would be helpful to clinicians who manage psychiatric symptoms of cancer patients.

 Cancer Antidepressant Prescription pattern Psychiatric consultation

The authors have no financial conflicts of interest.

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Demographic and clinical characteristics of subjects

*: p<0.05, independent t-test. SD : Standard deviation, SES : Socioeconomic status

Psychiatric diagnosis, symptoms and preferred antidepressants of patients at time of referral

*: Multiple response available. Esc : Escitalopram, Mir : Mirtazapine, Paro : Paroxetine

Causes of drug discontinuation

*: p<0.0001 Kruskal-Wallis test. GI : Gastrointestinal

Prescription of antidepressants, anxiolytics and hypnotics for cancer patients

SD : Standard deviation