Prevalence, Pattern, and Correlates of Psychiatric Morbidity among Patients living with Cancer in Nigerian Hospitals

Background: Cancer is a growing public health concern in Nigeria and other developing countries, with many patients presenting late and experiencing psychiatric comorbidities. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity among cancer patients. Methodology: This cross-sectional study involved 230 cancer outpatients at the National Hospital Abuja, using a socio-demographic questionnaire, the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12) for screening, and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) 6.0 for psychiatric diagnosis. Results: This study found psychiatric morbidity in 49 (21.4%) respondents. Major Depressive Disorder was found in 39 (17.0%) respondents. Prevalence of other psychiatric morbidity in total respondents was suicidal 13 (6.0%), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 9 (3.9%), Alcohol abuse 2 (0.9%), Psychotic disorder 2 (0.9%), Mania 1 (0.4%), and Hypo-mania 1 (0.4%). The presence of psychiatric morbidity had a statistically significant association with years of awareness of diagnosis (χ2=8.98, p=0.03), past history of mental illness (χ2=17.82, p=0.001), disclosure of diagnosis (χ2=11.43, p=0.01, prognosis (χ2=7.49, p=0.01), and treatment options (χ2=13.18, p=0.001). Conclusion: About one in five cancer patients in this study was fou nd to have psychiatric morbidity similar to other Nigerian findings. The presence of psychiatric morbidity has a statistically significant association with years aware of diagnosis, past history of mental illness, and disclosure of diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment options.