A “helping hand”: Intervention for early cancer screening in patients with mental illness

Cancer is a leading cause of mortality in patients with mental illnesses. Although individuals with mental illnesses are equally vulnerable to cancer as the general population, they are at a much higher risk of cancer-related mortality. Owing to a lack of early screening in most cases, such patients are often diagnosed when the cancer has progressed to a much-advanced stage, thereby limiting their treatment options and prognosis.

Schizophrenia is one such mental illness in which rational and coherent thinking in the affected individuals is often adversely affected. This has implications for accurate disease diagnosis in these individuals, including cancer. In fact, the evidence for cancer screening in patients with schizophrenia is scarce, with disparities across different cancers. It is thus imperative to develop programs that encourage such patients to undergo early cancer screening. To this end, in a first-of-its-kind study, researchers from Okayama University, Japan, have conducted a randomized trial to assess the benefits of interventions for early cancer screening in patients with schizophrenia.

Giving further insights into their study published in Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, lead scientist, Assistant Professor Masaki Fujiwara, says, “Although municipalities have been approaching populations to participate in cancer screening, mortality rates remain high among people with severe mental illnesses. Therefore, we developed a case management approach with particular focus on colorectal cancer screening, for patients with schizophrenia in psychiatric outpatient clinics.”

One hundred and seventy-two patients with schizophrenia across two psychiatric hospitals in Japan were randomly assigned to receive either assistance for cancer screening in addition to their usual treatment, or only the latter. A case management team was recruited from among the hospital personnel to inform and assist the patients towards the colorectal cancer (CRC) screening procedure. Primary outcome was assessed as participation in colorectal cancer screening involving a fecal occult blood test, while secondary outcomes included screening for other cancers including breast, gastric, lung, and cervical cancers. Three counseling sessions were conducted for the group receiving assistance for cancer screening. Patients were educated about the importance of early cancer screening, assisted to make an appointment, and helped to avail free screening where necessary. Case managers also helped patients navigate ways to resolve problems that they faced during the process through telephonic follow-up counseling sessions.

Notably, 47.1% patients from the counseled group underwent CRC screening, compared to merely 11.8% patients who received only the usual treatment. A significantly higher proportion of the counseled patients also underwent screening for other cancers, compared to the usual treatment group.

These findings suggest that patients with schizophrenia can participate in cancer screening to the same extent as the general population, albeit with some assistance. Implementing such support services at psychiatric centers can help improve awareness and participation in early cancer screening among patients with mental illnesses. Moreover, a comprehensive follow-up process can ensure that patients suspected of having cancer from the primary screening are encouraged to undergo colonoscopy and seek further treatment if required. Efforts in this direction can help decrease cancer-related mortality and improve patient outcomes in such populations.

“The dissemination of this intervention into routine clinical practice may help bridge the gap between early detection of cancer and mortality across people with schizophrenia and the general population.”, Dr. Fujiwara concludes.

This will indeed be a positive step towards ensuring the delivery of healthcare equally among members of a population, irrespective of mental health conditions.

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About Okayama University, Japan
As one of the leading universities in Japan, Okayama University aims to create and establish a new paradigm for the sustainable development of the world. Okayama University offers a wide range of academic fields, which become the basis of the integrated graduate schools. This not only allows us to conduct the most advanced and up-to-date research, but also provides an enriching educational experience.
Website: https://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/index_e.html

About Dr. Masaki Fujiwara from Okayama University, Japan
Dr. Masaki Fujiwara is an assistant professor at the Okayama University Hospital, Japan. He has completed his education in the field of psychiatry and neurology and is a member of several psychiatric societies in Japan. His research interests lie in developing tools for early cancer detection and neurological disorders as well as assessing health related behaviors in patients with psychiatric conditions. Dr. Fujiwara has authored several peer reviewed publications in these areas.