Psychiatric problems in bone marrow transplantation patients during isolation

Psychological stress is extremely high in patients with oncological diseases. About 50% of all cancer patients show psychological signs and symptoms which are related to the multiple stress factors of their oncological illness. Although many psychological problems connected with cancer are well known, additional acute stress could result from new therapeutic strategies which require settings similar to intensive care, e.g. bone marrow transplantation. For 2 years the Department of Psychiatry in Innsbruck has provided a "liaison service" at the Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation. Within this observation period, 40 patients have received psychooncological care. The diagnostic distribution according to DSM III-R and specific psychooncological interventions are presented.