Drug-induced akathisia as a cause of distress in spouse caregivers of cancer patients.
OBJECTIVE
Family caregivers of cancer patients suffer from physical, psychological, and social distress and therefore are often referred to as second order patients. Akathisia is a common side effect of antipsychotics and antidepressants that causes great discomfort and even agitation and is often described by patients administered these drugs as the most distressing side effect of their treatment. Several studies of akathisia as a cause of distress in cancer patients have been reported. However, akathisia has not been reported as a cause of distress in family caregivers of cancer patients.
A 74-year-old spouse caregiver who was under treatment for major depressive disorder was not able to visit the hospital where her husband, a terminally ill cancer patient, was being treated. Initially, the spouse caregiver thought that she could not visit the hospital because of the symptoms of her depression and her grief about losing her husband. However, careful clinical examination revealed that she was suffering from akathisia in addition to her grief.


RESULTS
Discontinuation of her sulpiride treatment resulted in the disappearance of her akathisia symptoms, and therefore she became able to visit the hospital and care for her terminally ill husband.


CONCLUSIONS
Drug induced akathisia is a cause of distress in spouse caregivers taking certain drugs. It is important for clinicians to realize that family caregivers might suffer from not only socioeconomic, physical, and psychological problems but also side effects of medication.
Department of Psycho-Oncology, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Saitama, Japan.
Mei
M
Wada
Department of Palliative Care, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Saitama, Japan.
Hiroshi
H
Ito
Department of Psycho-Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan.
Makoto
M
Wada
Department of Psycho-Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan.
Tomomi
T
Wada
Department of Psycho-Oncology, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Saitama, Japan.
Yukio
Y
Tada
Department of Psycho-Oncology, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Saitama, Japan.
Mayumi
M
Ishida
Department of Palliative Care, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Saitama, Japan.
Keiko
K
Mizuno
Department of Nursing, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Saitama, Japan.
Atsuko
A
Shioi
Department of Palliative Care, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Saitama, Japan.
Masaru
M
Narabayashi
Department of Medical Psychology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kitasato University, Kanagawa, Japan.
Yumi
Y
Iwamitsu
Department of Psycho-Oncology, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Saitama, Japan.
Hideki
H
Onishi
D000368:Aged; D017109:Akathisia, Drug-Induced; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001381:Azepines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D013469:Sulpiride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D019452:Terminally Ill; D014229:Triazolam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001381:Azepines; D014229:Triazolam; D013469:Sulpiride; C084599:clotiazepam