Depressive illness and lung cancer. II. Follow-up of inoperable patients.

Fifty patients with inoperable lung cancer were interviewed by a psychiatrist 2-3 months after diagnosis. Eight (16%) had a major depressive illness, which was receiving treatment in two cases only. Patients treated by radiotherapy or cytotoxic chemotherapy generally considered treatment worthwhile, whereas patients who had not had active treatment were more likely to be depressed or dissatisfied. Sixteen (32%) would have liked more information about their illness, but 12 (24%) neither knew their diagnosis nor wanted information. Distress among patients, spouses appeared frequent.