| Theme |
Palliative Medicine for Patients with Gastrointestinal Cancer |
| Title |
Management of Psychiatric Disorders in Palliative Care |
| Author |
Tatsuo Akechi |
PsyCho-Oncology Division, National Cancer Center Research Institute East / Psychiatry Division, National Cancer Center Hospital East |
| Author |
Tomohito Nakano |
Psychiatry Division, National Cancer Center Hospital |
| Author |
Yosuke Uchitomi |
PsyCho-Oncology Division, National Cancer Center Research Institute East / Psychiatry Division, National Cancer Center Hospital East |
| [ Summary ] |
It has been reported that the most common psychiatric disorders among cancer patients are adjustment disorders, major depression, and delirium. However, delirium is the most common disorder among patients with terminal cancer. Psychotherapeutic approachs, especially supportive psychotherapy, and pharmacotherapy, such as anxiolytics and antidepressants are generally used to manage adjustment disorders and major depression. For management of delirium, treatment of underlying physical conditions is the most important strategy, and both rearrangement of the patient's environment and use of major tranquilizers are also useful. Because a terminally ill cancer patient often experiences many losses and special attention, focusing on a patient's dying process may be needed, highly individualized care for each patient is essential. |