Research: 30% of Cancer Patients Used Psychiatric Drugs, Only 10% Sought Professional Psychological Help
The Cancer Hope Foundation and the Taiwan Psycho-Oncology Society held a press conference for "World Psycho-Oncology Day," revealing a crisis in emotional adjustment among cancer patients in Taiwan. A study analyzing over 680,000 health insurance records found that nearly 30% of cancer patients used psychiatric medications, but less than 10% received professional psychological assistance. This highlights a reliance on medication without adequate psychological support. The Ministry of Health and Welfare's Department of Mental Health plans to promote free counseling for cancer patients, and guidelines for psychological support have been released.
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The Cancer Hope Foundation and the Taiwan Psycho-Oncology Society jointly held a press conference today for "World Psycho-Oncology Day: Walking with Cancer, Starting from the Heart," revealing the crisis in emotional adjustment among cancer patients in Taiwan and calling for psychological care to be formally integrated into the holistic cancer care system.
Dr. Cheng Chih-tao's team, chairman of the Taiwan Psycho-Oncology Society, analyzed over 680,000 records from the National Health Insurance database. He presented that the results showed nearly 30% of cancer patients in Taiwan had used psychiatric medications such as sleeping pills or anti-anxiety drugs, but fewer than 10% had sought professional psychological assistance. This reflects that cancer patients often deal with emotional distress through medication but lack corresponding psychological care support.
Dr. Cheng stated that these prescription drugs are not limited to specific departments and may come from frontline oncologists, family physicians, or internal medicine doctors. However, this may mask the psychological gaps of cancer patients, meaning they are using medication to block anxiety but are not receiving corresponding professional psychological care.
"Cancer not only affects the body but also profoundly impacts the mind and family, so care must start at the systemic level." Jin Hsiu-li, a director of the Cancer Hope Foundation and a counseling psychologist, has long accompanied cancer patients in their fight against illness. She emphasized that cancer care needs to establish an integrated system from hospitals to communities, so that cancer patients' families no longer rely solely on luck but can receive accessible support resources at any time.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare's Department of Mental Health plans to promote free counseling for cancer patients in the second half of the year. Director-General Chen Po-hsi expressed gratitude to the Health Promotion Administration for establishing the basic infrastructure, noting that cancer patients undergo mental health screenings before discharge. In the future, this will be expanded to patients returning to the community, with graded interventions based on needs, including counseling, psychiatric evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment. The focus is on establishing a system, integrating guidance with the environment, and improving access to medical care.
The "Psychological Support and Care Guidelines for Cancer Patients and Families," commissioned by the Department of Mental Health and compiled by the Taiwan Psycho-Oncology Society, was officially launched recently on the Department of Mental Health's website.
Dr. Cheng suggested establishing a "tiered psychological care model," where frontline clinical personnel can conduct preliminary screenings and use anxiety and depression scales. Based on the assessment results, graded interventions would be implemented: low-risk cases would receive health education and emotional support from the medical team; moderate-risk cases would be referred to psychologists or social workers; and high-risk cases would be immediately referred to psychiatric specialists for diagnosis and treatment. (Editor: Chen Ching-fang) 1150409
Dr. Cheng Chih-tao's team, chairman of the Taiwan Psycho-Oncology Society, analyzed over 680,000 records from the National Health Insurance database. He presented that the results showed nearly 30% of cancer patients in Taiwan had used psychiatric medications such as sleeping pills or anti-anxiety drugs, but fewer than 10% had sought professional psychological assistance. This reflects that cancer patients often deal with emotional distress through medication but lack corresponding psychological care support.
Dr. Cheng stated that these prescription drugs are not limited to specific departments and may come from frontline oncologists, family physicians, or internal medicine doctors. However, this may mask the psychological gaps of cancer patients, meaning they are using medication to block anxiety but are not receiving corresponding professional psychological care.
"Cancer not only affects the body but also profoundly impacts the mind and family, so care must start at the systemic level." Jin Hsiu-li, a director of the Cancer Hope Foundation and a counseling psychologist, has long accompanied cancer patients in their fight against illness. She emphasized that cancer care needs to establish an integrated system from hospitals to communities, so that cancer patients' families no longer rely solely on luck but can receive accessible support resources at any time.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare's Department of Mental Health plans to promote free counseling for cancer patients in the second half of the year. Director-General Chen Po-hsi expressed gratitude to the Health Promotion Administration for establishing the basic infrastructure, noting that cancer patients undergo mental health screenings before discharge. In the future, this will be expanded to patients returning to the community, with graded interventions based on needs, including counseling, psychiatric evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment. The focus is on establishing a system, integrating guidance with the environment, and improving access to medical care.
The "Psychological Support and Care Guidelines for Cancer Patients and Families," commissioned by the Department of Mental Health and compiled by the Taiwan Psycho-Oncology Society, was officially launched recently on the Department of Mental Health's website.
Dr. Cheng suggested establishing a "tiered psychological care model," where frontline clinical personnel can conduct preliminary screenings and use anxiety and depression scales. Based on the assessment results, graded interventions would be implemented: low-risk cases would receive health education and emotional support from the medical team; moderate-risk cases would be referred to psychologists or social workers; and high-risk cases would be immediately referred to psychiatric specialists for diagnosis and treatment. (Editor: Chen Ching-fang) 1150409
FAQ
What percentage of cancer patients have used psychiatric medication?
According to an analysis of health insurance records, approximately 30% of cancer patients in Taiwan have used psychiatric medications such as sleeping pills or anti-anxiety drugs.
Do cancer patients receive sufficient professional psychological support?
No, the study indicates that less than 10% of cancer patients received professional psychological assistance, highlighting a lack of adequate psychological care.