Alan Valentine, MD

Although many cancer patients cope well with their disease, psychiatric disorders occur in almost 50% of patients in the setting of malignancy. Untreated psychological and neuropsychiatric disorders can compromise quality of life as well as treatment compliance. Three behavioral syndromes that are often encountered in clinical practice will be discussed here: depression, anxiety, and delirium.

Psychiatricdisorders are common in the setting of malignant disease, occurring inalmost 50% of patients.

Psychiatric disorders are common in the setting of malignant disease, occurringin almost 50% of patients. Many cancer patients cope well with theirdisease. For those who do not, untreated psychological and neuropsychiatricdisorders can seriously compromise quality of life and treatment compliance.Although there is a wide variety of presentations, three behavioral syndromesthat are often encountered in clinical practice will be discussed here: depression,anxiety, and delirium.