Chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and psychotropic use in cancer patients: A review of psychiatric side effects

Psychiatry consultation-liaison services are often called to evaluate patients with cancer. As consults for psychiatric issues, such as delirium, mood changes, or anxiety, remain common in cancer patients, it is important to evaluate the complete clinical picture including any cancer treatments that may affect the patient's medical presentation. Although the consulting psychiatrist may be well-versed in common medical etiological factors for psychiatric problems, when assessing cancer patients, it's an added benefit to patients if clinicians are also familiar with the chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatments that may contribute to psychopathology. In this article, we review the psychiatric side effects and complications associated with established chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatments. In addition, we consider the use of psychotropic medications that may also adversely affect cancer patients.