Understanding Mental Health Referrals in Cancer Care

Patients with cancer who were hospitalized at a tertiary academic medical center between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025, were referred to psychosocial oncology consultation services to address emotional, mental and social needs, according to findings from a study presented at the American Psychosocial Oncology Society 2026 Conference.

The study highlights that cancer care extends beyond physical treatment, with many patients needing support for emotional and psychological challenges during hospitalization. Psychosocial oncology consultation services are designed to meet these needs, helping patients cope with the stress of diagnosis and treatment.

Among 304 consultations representing 262 unique patients, the most common reasons for referral were related to cancer-specific coping and psychiatric concerns. This shows that many patients are navigating not only the physical effects of cancer but also the emotional impact, including anxiety, depression and difficulty adjusting to their diagnosis.

“[These] findings underscore that psychosocial oncology consultation services are well utilized for their intended purpose of supporting medical teams and patients across a range of biopsychosocial care needs,” investigators said in the poster presentation of their research.

For patients, this reinforces that experiencing emotional distress during cancer care is common and that support is available to help manage these challenges.

Most referrals reflect clear and meaningful patient needs

A key finding from the study is that fewer than 10% of consultations were considered non-specific. This means that nearly all referrals were made for clear and identifiable reasons tied to patient needs.

This is important for patients because it shows that when psychosocial support is recommended, it is based on specific concerns that may affect well-being and engagement in care. These services are not used unnecessarily but are an intentional part of treatment when emotional or mental health support is needed.

It also reflects that care teams are actively identifying when patients may benefit from additional support and taking steps to connect them with appropriate resources.

Certain patients may benefit from more tailored support

Moreover, the study found that some groups of patients may require more individualized psychosocial care.

Younger patients may face challenges related to adjusting to a cancer diagnosis earlier in life, which can affect their sense of stability and future planning. Patients with less advanced disease may still experience emotional distress, even if their cancer is not metastatic, showing that emotional impact is not always linked to disease stage.

Patients with gynecologic cancers, who made up 18% of the population, may benefit from more tailored support to help them stay engaged in their care.

“Patients who are younger, have less advanced disease, or those with gynecological cancers may require tailored support to facilitate care engagement,” investigators stated.

For patients with metastatic disease, referrals were more often related to cancer-specific concerns, including existential or end-of-life thoughts. This reflects how emotional needs may evolve as the disease progresses, with patients seeking support to process complex feelings about their condition and future.

However, investigators found that emotional needs are shared across all patient groups; no associations between consultation reasons and sex, race or ethnicity were found.

This means that emotional and psychological challenges during cancer care are experienced across all patient groups. For patients, this reinforces that needing support is not tied to a specific background and that these services are relevant for anyone navigating cancer.

More information on the research

The study examined types of cancer among patients who received psychosocial consultations. Gastrointestinal cancers accounted for 29% of cases, followed by gynecologic cancers at 18% and hematologic cancers at 13%.

These findings show that psychosocial support is needed across a range of cancer types. For patients, this highlights that emotional and mental health care is an important part of treatment regardless of diagnosis.

How psychosocial support fits into hospital care

Psychosocial oncology consultation services are integrated into hospital care when a patient’s needs extend beyond physical treatment.

The study shows that these services are being used as intended, supporting both patients and medical teams in addressing the full range of biopsychosocial needs. This includes helping patients cope with their diagnosis, manage emotional distress and stay engaged in their care.

By addressing these factors, psychosocial support can play an important role in improving a patient’s overall experience during hospitalization.

References

1. “Paging Psychosocial Oncology: Characterizing Reasons for Inpatient Psychosocial Oncology Referral” by Annemarie Jagielo, et al., Presented at the American Psychosocial Oncology Society 2026 Conference.

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