Mental Health Symptoms in Patients With Familial Adenomatous Polyposis: An Observational Study

BACKGROUND: Almost all patients with familial adenomatous polyposis undergo abdominal surgery with a risk of disease and surgery-related complications. This, the familial nature of the syndrome, and its wide-ranging manifestations make patients prone to mental health symptoms. If this is true, patients need appropriate evaluation and treatment. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to record the experience of mental health symptoms in a group of unselected patients with FAP. DESIGN: We conducted an observational study using an anonymized mental health symptom survey for patients affected with familial adenomatous polyposis. SETTINGS: The study was conducted using the Hereditary Colorectal Cancer Registry in a tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Patients affected with familial adenomatous polyposis were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Results of the mental health survey were measured. RESULTS: Seventy nine of 100 patients completed the survey; 57 endorsed ≥1 psychosocial symptom (72.2%). with a mean of 4 per patient. Nine patients (11.4%) met all 4 of the American Psychiatric Association diagnostic criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder, and 8 (10.1%) endorsed partial posttraumatic stress disorder criteria (3/4 symptoms). Patients who met all of the criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder had an average of 9.3 psychosocial symptoms each compared with 8.3 for those who met 3 of 4 and 2.2 for those who met
Source: Diseases of the Colon and Rectum - Category: Gastroenterology Tags: Original contributions: Colorectal Cancer Source Type: research