Psychiatric morbidity and consultation trends in pediatric hematology–oncology inpatients

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate psychiatric morbidity and consultation patterns among hospitalized pediatric hematology-oncology patients and to identify clinical factors associated with psychiatric diagnoses.Materials and Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional chart review was conducted at the pediatric hematology-oncology inpatient service of Adana City Training and Research Hospital. Medical records of patients aged 0–18 years who were hospitalized in the pediatric hematology-oncology service and received a child and adolescent psychiatry consultation between September 2022 and September 2025 were reviewed. Psychiatric diagnoses were established according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). Results: A total of 126 unique pediatric hematology-oncology inpatients were included (mean age: 10.9 ± 4.6 years; 58.7% male). A psychiatric diagnosis was established in 76 patients (60.3%). The most common diagnoses were adjustment disorder in 26 patients (20.6%), major depressive disorder in 21 (16.7%), and anxiety disorders in 16 (12.7%). In multivariable analysis, female sex (OR: 3.23, 95% CI: 1.36–7.68), metastatic disease (OR: 2.63, 95% CI: 1.07–6.49), and low treatment adherence (OR: 6.42, 95% CI: 1.96–21.03) were independently associated with psychiatric diagnosis.Conclusion: Psychiatric morbidity is highly prevalent among hospitalized pediatric hematology-oncology patients requiring psychiatric consultation. Female sex, metastatic disease, and poor adherence to oncological treatment were identified as independent risk factors for psychiatric diagnosis.