IntroductionLung cancer is a stressful condition for both patient and family. The anxiety and pain accompanying cancer and its treatment have a significant negative influence on the patient’s life quality.AimsTo investigate the correlation between anxiety, pain and perceived family support in a sample of lung cancer patients.MethodsThe sample consists of a total of 101 lung cancer patients hospitalized at the oncology department of a general hospital. Anxiety, pain (severity and interference) and perceived family support were assessed using Spielberger’s State - Trait Anxiety Inventory (SSTAI), the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) and the Family Support Scale (FSS) respectively.ResultsAnalysis showed that there is a correlation between anxiety, pain and family support as perceived by the patients. Pain intensity (severity and interference) has a positive correlation to both state and trait anxiety and a negative correlation to family support. The effects of pain in everyday life also exhibit a positive correlation to state and trait anxiety and a negative correlation to family support. Anxiety (state and trait) has a significant negative correlation to family support.ConclusionsPain intensity in lung cancer patients seems to have an effect on patient anxiety and perceived family support. Treating patients’ pain could lead to a decrease in anxiety symptoms as well as an increase in perceived family support.

ObjectivePeriods of financial crises have been associated with impairment of mental health and increased suicidality. The purpose of this research is to study the potential impact of the consequences of the financial crisis, such as unemployment, job insecurity, debts, poverty, social exclusion on the suicidality in the Greek population.MethodThe records of patients who were hospitalized in the Internal Medicine Clinics of a general hospital after attempting suicide in the years 2007 and 2011, before and during the financial crisis respectively, were studied. Demographic data, methods of suicide attempt, psychiatric history and severity of psychopathology at the time of suicide attempt, were recorded for each patient.ResultsThe statistical analysis showed that during the financial crisis there is an increase in the number of suicide attempts. Most affected are those who are unemployed, married, who are reaching the age of retirement or are already retired and have no history of psychiatric disorder or suicide attempt. Furthermore, there was evidence suggesting that a decreased threshold of psychopathology was adequate for individuals to exhibit suicidal behavior.ConclusionsIt seems that the economic crisis in Greece has a negative impact on the mental health of its population and causes an increase in suicidal behavior. Consequently, mental health promotion and suicidality prevention programs are essential for the accurate and timely identification and the immediate and effective management of high risk individuals.

IntroductionThe high prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity in drug dependent individuals is well known. However, there is limited literature available regarding the comorbidity of psychiatric disorders in drug addicts on methadone maintenance treatment (MMT).AimsTo determine the comorbidity of mental disorders in patients on MMT.MethodsThe Symptom Checklist 90-Revised (SCL-90R) [1] was completed by 85 drug addicts (65 male and 20 female) on MMT. We recorded demographic data, duration of addiction, and duration of MMT.ResultsThe mean age of the sample was 42.0 ± 8.8 years old, the mean duration of substance use was 24.3 ± 8.2 years and the mean duration of MMT was 6.8 ± 4.1. The majority of participants (78.8%) were unemployed and 58.3% of them had no children. Participants scored higher on the depression, paranoid ideation, anxiety, hostility, somatization, interpersonal sensitivity and psychoticism SCL-90R sub-scales, with average scores >1 [2]. On the contrary, lower scores were recorded in the obsessive-compulsive and phobic anxiety sub-scales. The percentage of participants that reported abnormal scores for each sub-scale was as follows: 89.3% for depression, 83.3% for paranoid ideation, 74.7% for anxiety, 66.7% for hostility, 64.7% for somatization, 51.2% for psychoticism and 35.7% for phobic anxiety. No abnormal scores were recorded regarding obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Only 8.4% of participants did not score abnormally on any sub-scale.ConclusionsDrug-addicted patients on MMT show a high comorbidity of psychiatric disorders. In particular, the likely presence of depressive and paranoid symptoms should be taken into serious account when deciding on a therapeutic strategy.

IntroductionIt is known that patients with chronic and life - threatening diseases often presents anxiety and depressive symptoms.ObjectivesThe comparison of the levels of anxiety and depression in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and in patients with lung cancer.MethodsThe completion of the HADS scale was requested in 42 randomly selected patients (21 with lung cancer and 21 with COPD).ResultsHigher rates appeared in the subscales of anxiety and depression of the HADS (12.88 SD 5.03 and 13.45 SD 5.60, respectively) compared to the general hospitalized patients. Pathological rates of anxiety appeared at the 59.5% of the sample, while pathological rates of depression were found at 45.2%. Patients with lung cancer presented higher total score at HADS against patients with COPD (29.48 SD 9.3 vs 23.19 SD 8.26, t test p < 0. 05). In the subscale of anxiety appeared statistically higher average rate in patients with cancer against patients with COPD (14.43 SD 4.97 vs 11.33 SD 4.33, t test p < 0.05). Among the demographic factors, only age seemed to participate to the anxiety variation.ConclusionsPatients with COPD such as patients with lung cancer are presented with high rates of anxiety and depressive symptoms. Patient's age seems to be a significant factor at the variation of the anxiety symptoms.