A recent study from the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm has found that the spouses of individuals with cancer are at greater risk of developing psychiatric disorders than those without a cancer diagnosis. The research, which studied over 3 million individuals in Denmark and Sweden, found that in comparison to the 5% of spouses of individuals without cancer, 7% of spouses of people with cancer developed a psychiatric disorder during follow-up periods. The risk was particularly high during the first year after diagnosis and for those whose partner had a cancer with poor prognosis or at an advanced stage.
Experts suggest that these findings should be taken into consideration and family-focused, rather than patient-focused, treatment should be provided. Heather Badt, the executive director of research and training at the Cancer Support Community’s Research and Training Institute, emphasized the importance of providing better systems of care for the spouses of cancer patients, as well as better access to available support services. Kejia Hu, a postdoctoral researcher at the Karolinska Institutet, added that these findings should also create an awareness of the vulnerability of cancer patients and their families.
These findings highlight the importance of providing support for the families of cancer patients, as well as the need for better access to available support services. It is clear that the medical community should take these findings into consideration when providing treatment for cancer patients and their families, and should work towards providing family-focused care. Additionally, it is important to create an awareness of the vulnerability of cancer patients and their families in order to ensure that they receive the support they need during such a difficult time.