Psychotropic medications in oncology

Context Psychological distress is common in patients with cancer, and oncology providers are often tasked with utilizing psychotropic medications to treat such symptoms. Objective This study aims to characterize how oncology providers prescribe psychotropic medications and to assess their comfort level with prescribing these medications. Methods A cross-sectional survey was sent to oncology medical doctors, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants who prescribe psychotropic medications to patients with cancer at a large academic medical center in the Mountain West. The survey included questions regarding provider subspecialty, degree, comfort with prescribing psychotropic medications, and factors that informed their prescribing. Results Oncology providers (n = 65) reported equal proportions of comfort and discomfort with prescribing psychotropic medications. The medication class with the most prescribers was benzodiazepines, with 89.2% (n = 58) of the respondents prescribing those medications. The least prescribed category was mood stabilizers, with 4.6% (n = 3) prescribing this category. Prescribers identified that barriers to their comfort included difficulty connecting patients to follow-up care with mental health professionals and inadequate mental health education for providers. Providers responded that continuing mental health education and increasing patient access to mental health resources would increase their prescribing comfort. Conclusion Providers reported equal parts comfort and discomfort with prescribing psychotropic medications; avenues to increase comfort should involve focused mental health education during formal training and continued education throughout their oncology careers. A clinical pathway for prescribing psychotropic medications with resources to connect patients to long-term mental health care may also increase prescribing comfort.

Automated summary

Oncology providers displayed both comfort and discomfort with prescribing psychotropic medications, with benzodiazepines being the most commonly prescribed class and mood stabilizers being the least prescribed. Barriers to comfort included difficulties in connecting patients to mental health professionals for follow-up care and inadequate mental health education for providers. Continuing mental health education and improving patient access to mental health resources were suggested to increase providers' comfort in prescribing psychotropic medications.