Psycho-oncology Patients in a Tertiary Care Center: Descriptive Profile and Psychiatric Characteristics

Context: Cancer’s effect transcends the physical; it influences the patient’s psychological and emotional well-being in various ways. Aims: This study describes the psychiatric characteristics of patients with cancer referred to the consultation-liaison psychiatry service at a tertiary care center in Beirut, Lebanon. It explores the field of psycho-oncology from the perspective of a developing country, highlighting key factors to be considered for the improved integration of psychiatric care into cancer treatment. Settings and Design: This is a retrospective record-review study based at a tertiary care center in Lebanon (American University of Beirut Medical Center). Subjects and Methods: Data came from a broader research project on consultation‐liaison at AUBMC, CLAUB. Psychopathology diagnoses were made according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. The sample included 147 patients diagnosed with cancer. Statistical Analysis Used: Chi-square tests, t -tests, and Fisher’s exact tests were used to assess for associations between sociodemographic and psychiatric characteristics, as well as for correlations between cancer characteristics and psychopathology. Results: The most common diagnoses were leukemia (19%), lymphoma (17.7%), and breast cancer (17%). Females were more likely to be prescribed antidepressants ( P = 0.006), whereas males were more likely to be prescribed sleep medications ( P = 0.012). Patients receiving palliative care were more likely to be diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder ( P = 0.022). Delirium was the most common diagnosis (27.9%), followed by depressive (19.7%) and adjustment (14.3%) disorders. Conclusions: Our data highlight the crucial role of consultation-liaison psychiatry services, particularly during the terminal stages of illness, and underscore the need for targeted and proactive psychiatric screening – especially among patients with leukemia, lymphoma, and breast cancer.