title: Use of the diagnostic criteria for psychosomatic research in oncology.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Psycho-oncology literature has shown that 30-50% of cancer patients meet the criteria for a psychiatric diagnosis, according to the usual nosographic classification (e.g. DSM). The Diagnostic Criteria for Psychosomatic Research (DCPR) have been shown to be useful in identifying psychological constellations in patients with medical illness. The aims of the study were to compare the DSM-IV and the DCPR in their application to cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and forty-six patients with cancer underwent semistructured interviews to assess psychiatric morbidity and psychosocial syndromes according to the DSM-IV and the DCPR, respectively. The Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) was also used to assess psychological stress symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-five subjects (44.5%) met the criteria for a DSM-IV diagnosis (DSM cases), while 104 patients (71.2%) presented symptoms meeting the criteria for at least one DCPR syndrome. Three DCPR dimensions were more frequent than others, specifically Health Anxiety (37.7%), Demoralization (28.8%) and Alexithymia (26%). Among the subjects with no formal DSM-IV diagnosis (n = 81), 58% had at least one DCPR syndrome. DSM-IV cases had higher scores on several BSI subscales in comparison with patients with only one DCPR syndrome, while no difference was found in patients with more than one DCPR diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The DCPR system was found to be useful in oncology in investigating psychological conditions which are not identified by the DSM-IV alone. Assessment of more specific constructs, other than intensity of general stress symptoms, may give more specific information and help in tailoring psychological intervention for patients with cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences of Communication and Behavior, Section of Psychiatry, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy. luigi.grassi@unife.it
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grassi
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sabato
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Biancosino
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marmai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000639:trends; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D010045:Outpatients; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011584:Psychology / Q000639:trends; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity