Mental disturbances during isolation in bone marrow transplant patients with leukemia

The mental status of 39 leukemia patients, who received bone marrow transplants (BMT), was studied during the period of isolation. Mental disorders (diagnosed according to DSM-IV criteria) occurred in 16 patients (41%) during the observation period, The most frequent diagnoses were adjustment disorders, with anxiety and/or depression. Logistic regression analysis suggested higher Tension-Anxiety score in the Profile of Mood States (POMS) prior to isolation (P = 0.011), donation of the bone marrow from unrelated subjects (P = 0.026) and in female patients (P = 0.033). The results are preliminary, but indicate a high frequency of mental disturbances and highlight the importance of psychiatric intervention in BMT patients.