gms | German Medical Science

27th German Cancer Congress Berlin 2006

German Cancer Society (Frankfurt/M.)

22. - 26.03.2006, Berlin

Different diagnostic procedures concerning psychological support of oncologic in-patients

Meeting Abstract

  • corresponding author presenting/speaker Andreas Ihrig - Division of Psychooncology, Department of General Internal and sychosomatic Medicine, Medical Hsital, University Hospital HeidelbergHeidelberg, Deutschland
  • Anette Brechtel - Division of Psychooncology, Department of General Internal and sychosomatic Medicine, Medical Hsital, University Hospital HeidelbergHeidelberg
  • Claudia Fischer - Division of Psychooncology, Department of General Internal and sychosomatic Medicine, Medical Hsital, University Hospital HeidelbergHeidelberg
  • Monika Keller - Division of Psychooncology, Department of General Internal and sychosomatic Medicine, Medical Hsital, University Hospital HeidelbergHeidelberg

27. Deutscher Krebskongress. Berlin, 22.-26.03.2006. Düsseldorf, Köln: German Medical Science; 2006. DocPO569

The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.egms.de/en/meetings/dkk2006/06dkk679.shtml

Published: March 20, 2006

© 2006 Ihrig et al.
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Outline

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Introduction: Because of spreading fast track medicine, it is important to identify in-patients who need psychological support early. Aim of the following analysis is to describe the outcomes and requirements of different diagnostic procedures within routine treatment.

Methods: We use three independent ways of assessing the need for psychological support of patients:

1. ´Screening´: All patients get the questionnaire HADS (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) before admission. Patients with scores above the cut-off are visited by a psychologist.

2. ´On-demand´: Attending physicians, nurses or social workers might call for psychological interventions when they observe heightened need for support.

3. ´Self-demand´: Patients or their relatives might ask for support by themselves.

Basis of the analysis are the documentations filled out by the psychooncological staff within four months in the department of surgery of the Heidelberg university hospital. Documentation is analysed from the proportion and type of psychiatric diagnosis (ICD: F.10-F.90) assigned by the psychooncological staff.

Results: 121 cases of in-patients are documented. Most diagnoses are adjustment disorders (F43.2). The percentage of psychiatric diagnoses is lowest in ´self-demand` patients (14%). In patients above the cut-off point of the screening questionnaire 17% and in `on-demand´ patients 32% a psychiatric diagnosis is assigned.

Conclusion: Different diagnostic procedures and multi-disciplinary collaboration are required to ensure appropriate psychooncological support for cancer patients during their in-patient treatment.