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Review
. 2025 Jan;27(1):41-57.
doi: 10.1007/s11920-024-01570-9. Epub 2025 Jan 9.

The Challenging Problems of Cancer and Serious Mental Illness

Luigi Grassi  1   2 , Daniel McFarland  3 , Michelle Riba  4 , Maria Ferrara  5   6 , Giulia Zaffarami  5 , Martino Belvederi Murri  5   6 , Marco Cruciata  5 , Rosangela Caruso  5   6
Affiliations
Review

The Challenging Problems of Cancer and Serious Mental Illness

Luigi Grassi et al. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2025 Jan.

Abstract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Patients with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) are reported to be at higher risk for somatic disorders (e.g. cardiovascular and metabolic diseases) and higher mortality, compared to the general population, because of the consequences of SMI including psychotropic medication side effects, sedentary and unhealthy lifestyle, difficult access to physical health care. The aim of this review was to examine the current evidence regarding oncology, focusing on the problem of cancer among patients with SMI. RECENT FINDINGS: Compared to the general population, individuals with SMI showed a lower rate of screening for cancer, suboptimal standard cancer treatment, delayed treatment, and higher mortality from cancer. Several factors, including those related to the patient, the health-care system, and the social context, are involved in these negative outcomes. It is therefore necessary to raise awareness and alert clinicians in oncology settings to the challenging problem of cancer among patients with SMI, a marginalized and vulnerable segment of the population that can be at risk for not receiving proper cancer prevention and care. Evidence supports the mandatory need for an interdisciplinary approach involving psychiatry and mental health services.

Keywords: Bipolar disorders; Cancer; Course; Depression; Incidence; Major depression; Oncology; Schizophrenia; Severe mental illness.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Factors related to inequalities and dipartites of cancer care among patients with SMI
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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