Comparison of Psychiatric Symptoms in Carcinoma of the Pancreas with Those in Some Other Intra-abdominal Neoplasms
IVAN FRAS M.D.1,
EDWARD M. LITIN M.D.2, , and
JOHN S. PEARSON PH.D.3
1 Resident in pediatric psychiatry, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. 55901
2 Section of Psychiatry, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. 55901
3 Consulting Clinical Psychologist, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. 55901
Study of 46 consecutive patients who had carcinoma of the pancreas revealed that 76 percent had psychiatric symptoms which appeared to be closely related to the presence of the neoplasm. Symptoms of depression, anxiety, and premonition of serious illness were characteristic. Since the psychiatric symptoms appeared before any other symptoms in nearly half of the patients, these symptoms should be regarded as an aid in the diagnosis of carcinoma of the pancreas.
