• Asao Ogawa, Tomi Tanaka, Akiko Todaka, Masako Yamanaka, Kazuyo Matsuyama, Haruna Matsuoka, Mari Makiyama, Hideto Hirotsune, and Toshimasa Tsujinaka.
• Palliative Care Team, Dept. of Neuropsychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine, National Hospital Organization Osaka National Hospital.
• Gan To Kagaku Ryoho. 2006 Dec 1; 33 Suppl 2: 349-51.

AbstractAt Osaka National Hospital, we opened a palliative care team (PCT) since July 2004. The PCT advises the symptom management of cancer patients and supports patients' decision making. By March 2006, 355 consecutive cancer patients referred to the PCT, including 221 patients with psychiatric symptoms. The duration of the treatments for psychiatric symptoms were extended longer than for physical symptoms (physical symptoms: 47.7 days, depression: 60.4, delirium: 56.0, adjustment disorders: 57.4; p < 0.05). The reasons for this prolongation are that psychiatric symptoms (especially delirium) are often overlooked, and that home doctors and visiting nurses often hesitate to take on the home medical care because of unfamiliarity with them. The management of psychiatric symptoms at home is important for appropriate end-of-life care. The PCT and regional doctors have to work closely in cooperating with the successive palliation when the patient is transformed to home medical care.

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