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Drug-induced akathisia as a cause of distress in spouse caregivers of cancer patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 May 2011

Mei Wada ,
Hiroshi Ito ,
Makoto Wada ,
Tomomi Wada ,
Yukio Tada ,
Mayumi Ishida ,
Keiko Mizuno ,
Atsuko Shioi ,
Masaru Narabayashi  and
Yumi Iwamitsu
...Show all authors
Mei Wada*
Affiliation:
Department of Psycho-Oncology, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Saitama, Japan Department of Medical Psychology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kitasato University, Kanagawa, Japan
Hiroshi Ito
Affiliation:
Department of Palliative Care, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Saitama, Japan
Makoto Wada
Affiliation:
Department of Psycho-Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
Tomomi Wada
Affiliation:
Department of Psycho-Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
Yukio Tada
Affiliation:
Department of Psycho-Oncology, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Saitama, Japan
Mayumi Ishida
Affiliation:
Department of Psycho-Oncology, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Saitama, Japan Graduate School of Human Sciences, Waseda University, Saitama, Japan Research Fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
Keiko Mizuno
Affiliation:
Department of Palliative Care, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Saitama, Japan
Atsuko Shioi
Affiliation:
Department of Nursing, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Saitama, Japan
Masaru Narabayashi
Affiliation:
Department of Palliative Care, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Saitama, Japan
Yumi Iwamitsu
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Psychology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kitasato University, Kanagawa, Japan
Hideki Onishi
Affiliation:
Department of Psycho-Oncology, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Saitama, Japan
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Mei Wada, Department of Psycho-Oncology, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, 1397-1 Yamane, Hidaka-City, Saitama, 350-1298, Japan. E-mail: mei_wada@saitama-med.ac.jp
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Abstract

Objective:

Family caregivers of cancer patients suffer from physical, psychological, and social distress and therefore are often referred to as second order patients. Akathisia is a common side effect of antipsychotics and antidepressants that causes great discomfort and even agitation and is often described by patients administered these drugs as the most distressing side effect of their treatment. Several studies of akathisia as a cause of distress in cancer patients have been reported. However, akathisia has not been reported as a cause of distress in family caregivers of cancer patients.

Method/Case report:

A 74-year-old spouse caregiver who was under treatment for major depressive disorder was not able to visit the hospital where her husband, a terminally ill cancer patient, was being treated. Initially, the spouse caregiver thought that she could not visit the hospital because of the symptoms of her depression and her grief about losing her husband. However, careful clinical examination revealed that she was suffering from akathisia in addition to her grief.

Results:

Discontinuation of her sulpiride treatment resulted in the disappearance of her akathisia symptoms, and therefore she became able to visit the hospital and care for her terminally ill husband.

Significance of results:

Drug induced akathisia is a cause of distress in spouse caregivers taking certain drugs. It is important for clinicians to realize that family caregivers might suffer from not only socioeconomic, physical, and psychological problems but also side effects of medication.

Keywords

AkathisiaDepressionSide effectGriefCaregiver
Type
Case Report
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 9 , Issue 2 , June 2011 , pp. 209 - 212
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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