Psychiatric disorders in hospitalized patients with hematologic neoplasms.

We report the results of a year of regular psychiatric support in the Hematology Department (UTI-DH) at Santa Maria Hospital. During a six-month period, the total group of hospital inpatients suffering from leukemia, Hodgkin's disease or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, were assessed, using a semi-structured interview. A prevalence of 30% of adjustment disorders (depression and/or anxiety) and 2% of organic mental syndromes was found employing the DSM-III-R diagnostic system. In the second six-month period only patients referred by their doctor and/or nurse were observed. The two rates are discussed. A lower prevalence was found if compared with other studies in cancer patients in general. Possible causes will be focussed. General problems related to the nature of the cancer were identified. The consequences of the omission of cancer diagnosis to patients are analysed. The communication between physician and patient which is often neglected irrespectively of the culture or country, is stressed.