biostudies-literatureUnknown25(3)Wang CHthe National Health Research Institutes, Taiwan<h4>Purpose</h4>This study investigated the short- and long-term use of medication for psychological distress after the diagnosis of cancer.<h4>Methods</h4>Longitudinal data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance database were used to follow 35,137 cancer patients for 2.5 years after being diagnosed in 2006 and 2007.<h4>Results</h4>Among those patients who survived for at least 180 days, 20.9 % had used psychotropic medications; sedatives were the most frequently prescribed (14.3 %), followed by antidepressants (5.5 %), anxiolytics (3.6 %), and antipsychotics (2.7 %). Lung cancer, prostate cancer, and oral cancer showed a significant association with the regular use of medication in the first 180 days. Among patients who survived for at least 2.5 years, 4.8 % still used psychotropic medSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer757-768https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC5266776biostudies-literatureShort- and long-term use of medication for psychological distress after the diagnosis of cancer.PMC5266776Chen CLYang CCWang CHYang WCChen LChen YYHuang LCChou YJfalseShort- and long-term use of medication for psychological distress after the diagnosis of cancer.<h4>Purpose</h4>This study investigated the short- and long-term use of medication for psychological distress after the diagnosis of cancer.<h4>Methods</h4>Longitudinal data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance database were used to follow 35,137 cancer patients for 2.5 years after being diagnosed in 2006 and 2007.<h4>Results</h4>Among those patients who survived for at least 180 days, 20.9 % had used psychotropic medications; sedatives were the most frequently prescribed (14.3 %), followed by antidepressants (5.5 %), anxiolytics (3.6 %), and antipsychotics (2.7 %). Lung cancer, prostate cancer, and oral cancer showed a significant association with the regular use of medication in the first 180 days. Among patients who survived for at least 2.5 years, 4.8 % still used psychotropic med2017-01-01T00:00:00Z2017 Mar2025-04-04T08:54:16.721Z2019-03-27T02:35:00ZS-EPMC52667762778558310.1007/s00520-016-3456-z