Psychiatric morbidity in pre-mastectomy patients diagnosed with breast cancer at a tertiary private hospital in Makati City

OBJECTIVES:This study aimed at identifying psychiatric problems among patients who were diagnosed with breast cancer and scheduled for mastectomy.METHODOLOGY:All the women who were diagnosed with breast cancer and were awaiting their scheduled mastectomy at the surgical clinic were interviewed using the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ) and the Zung Self Rating Depression Scale. Their sociodemographic and histopathological reports were also noted.RESULTS:There were 21 women included in this study with mean age of 43.5 years. Majority (61.9%) were married and mostly high school graduates (42.8%) and unemployed i.e. 76.19% housewives. Most complained of breast pain (71.4%) while a third (38.1%) noted nipple discharge. Based on the SRQ,61.9% scored positive for mood/ anxiety and only 4.7% were found to be positive for psychosis. When rated according to the Zung Self Rating Depression Scale, 6 or 28.6% were noted to have marked depression and 5 or 23.8% had severe depression.CONCLUSION:Since most women with breast cancer in this study have been found to be positive for mood/anxiety and depression, it is recommended that screening for psychiatry morbidity should be part of the standard care and a support group manned by mental health professionals should be established as part of the holistic management.

Psychiatric morbidity among disabled clients of the rehabilitation sheltered workshop- Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to assess the psychosocial needs of persons with disability of the Rehabilitation Sheltered Workshop (RSW) of the DSWD as well as screen for psychiatric illness.METHODOLOGY: There were 38 persons with various disabilities enrolled at the RSW. They were interviewed and screened using the Self Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ).RESULTS: About a third (34.21%) were married and 28.94% were single. Fifty percent were physically disabled i.e. amputees or with deformities of the extremities; 34.21% were blind the remaining 15.78% had a variety of disabilities e.g. deafness, facial deformity or speech impairment. The mean age was 45.5 years old. Based on the SRQ 38.64% of the visually disabled clients scored positive for mood/anxiety while 53.84% scored positive for psychosis; while 52.63% of the orthopedic clients scored positive for mood/anxiety and an even higher 73.68% scored positive for psychosis. For the other handicapped clients,33.33% scored positive for mood/anxiety and 50.00% scored positive for psychosis.CONCLUSION: Majority (63.16%) of the 38 clients at the RSW were psychotic and only 44.73% were found to have mood/ anxiety symptoms, thus the need for psychiatric follow up as well as initiation of psychopharmacological and psychotherapeutic interventions for these clients.