Psychopathology of pancreatic cancer. A psychobiologic probe.
Reports of characteristic psychiatric symptoms occurring in patients with pancreatic cancer appear regularly in the literature. A review of this literature reveals that symptoms of depression and/or anxiety may appear in approximately 50% of patients with pancreatic cancer before the diagnosis is made. This review proposes that the psychopathology of pancreatic tumors may be linked to tumor-induced changes in neuroendocrine or acid-base systems. Although confirmatory data are lacking, informed speculation centers on the potential role of adrenocorticotropic hormone, parathyroid hormone, thyrotropin-releasing hormone, glucagon, serotonin, insulin, and bicarbonate in the production of depression and/or anxiety in this disease. Elucidation of the pathophysiology of the psychiatric symptoms in patients with pancreatic cancer may provide a marker for early diagnosis of pancreatic neoplasia as well as a probe into the biologic bases of depression and anxiety.
Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts Mental Health Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston 02115.
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Green
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Austin
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006729:Hormones, Ectopic / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019965:Neurocognitive Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000503:physiopathology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D010348:Patient Care Team
D006729:Hormones, Ectopic