Prevalence of mental health conditions in cancer patients in acute care--a meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
To what extent is professional psychosocial care of cancer patients in acute hospitals necessary? In a previous meta-analysis, prevalence of psychological sequelae was found to be the same as in the general population. New studies with advanced methodology have been published since; therefore, an updated meta-analysis was needed.


METHODS
We systematically reviewed studies assessing the prevalence of mental health conditions in acute care hospitals with comprehensive structured clinical interviews.


RESULTS
Of 46 retrieved manuscripts, eight were deemed eligible for this meta-analysis. Within the studies, 1448 cancer patients had been assessed, whereby 456 were diagnosed having a mental health disorder. The prevalence rates ranged from 23% (breast cancer patients in Turkey) to 53% (elderly cancer patients in Uganda). The combined prevalence estimate is 32% (95% confidence interval 27% to 37%).


CONCLUSIONS
One-third of the cancer patients in acute care hospitals is suffering from mental health disorders and need appropriate treatment.
Singer
S
S
Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany. susanne.singer@medizin.uni-leipzig.de
Das-Munshi
J
J
Brähler
E
E
D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008603:Mental Health; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D015995:Prevalence