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The experiences of people diagnosed with severe mental illness and colorectal cancer: A qualitative study.

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Title: The experiences of people diagnosed with severe mental illness and colorectal cancer: A qualitative study.
Authors: Zirnsak, Tessa-May (AUTHOR), De Nicola, Julia (AUTHOR), Kisely, Steve (AUTHOR), Siskind, Dan (AUTHOR), Protani, Melinda M. (AUTHOR), Brophy, Lisa (AUTHOR)
Source: Australasian Psychiatry. Aug2026, Vol. 34 Issue 4, p336-342. 7p.
Subjects: Mental illness, Colorectal cancer, Comorbidity, Qualitative research, Health services accessibility, Discrimination (Sociology), Patients' attitudes, Cancer diagnosis
Abstract: Objectives: There is evidence that people with severe mental illness (SMI) are more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage and die earlier from colorectal cancer (CRC). The purpose of this study is to understand the barriers to effective CRC diagnosis and treatment for this group. Methods: Five people (four people diagnosed with CRC and SMI and one carer for a person in this group) participated in interviews about their experience of CRC diagnosis and treatment. Interviews were analysed using NVivo to identify key themes. Results: We identified four key themes: diagnostic overshadowing, fear, practical access and interpersonal partnerships. Conclusions: Participants in this study were less likely to have their healthcare needs met because of discrimination and unmet needs associated with their diagnosis of SMI. This is not a new finding – many other mental and physical health researchers have identified this problem. But this study enables people who have lived through the challenge of this experience to share their perspective. Consequently, we recommend that future research focus on practical strategies to minimise discrimination among health professionals and policymakers and identify solutions to address the disproportionate barriers people diagnosed with SMI encounter regarding CRC testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Australasian Psychiatry is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: The experiences of people diagnosed with severe mental illness and colorectal cancer: A qualitative study.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zirnsak%2C+Tessa-May%22">Zirnsak, Tessa-May</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22De+Nicola%2C+Julia%22">De Nicola, Julia</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kisely%2C+Steve%22">Kisely, Steve</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Siskind%2C+Dan%22">Siskind, Dan</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Protani%2C+Melinda+M%2E%22">Protani, Melinda M.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Brophy%2C+Lisa%22">Brophy, Lisa</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Australasian+Psychiatry%22">Australasian Psychiatry</searchLink>. Aug2026, Vol. 34 Issue 4, p336-342. 7p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mental+illness%22">Mental illness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Colorectal+cancer%22">Colorectal cancer</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Comorbidity%22">Comorbidity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Qualitative+research%22">Qualitative research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Health+services+accessibility%22">Health services accessibility</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Discrimination+%28Sociology%29%22">Discrimination (Sociology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Patients'+attitudes%22">Patients' attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cancer+diagnosis%22">Cancer diagnosis</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Objectives: There is evidence that people with severe mental illness (SMI) are more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage and die earlier from colorectal cancer (CRC). The purpose of this study is to understand the barriers to effective CRC diagnosis and treatment for this group. Methods: Five people (four people diagnosed with CRC and SMI and one carer for a person in this group) participated in interviews about their experience of CRC diagnosis and treatment. Interviews were analysed using NVivo to identify key themes. Results: We identified four key themes: diagnostic overshadowing, fear, practical access and interpersonal partnerships. Conclusions: Participants in this study were less likely to have their healthcare needs met because of discrimination and unmet needs associated with their diagnosis of SMI. This is not a new finding – many other mental and physical health researchers have identified this problem. But this study enables people who have lived through the challenge of this experience to share their perspective. Consequently, we recommend that future research focus on practical strategies to minimise discrimination among health professionals and policymakers and identify solutions to address the disproportionate barriers people diagnosed with SMI encounter regarding CRC testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Australasian Psychiatry is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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              Text: Aug2026
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