Major depression and cancer diseases
April 1, 2010
| Abstract Title: | Major depression and cancer diseases |
| Authors: | Ramona Maria Chendereş1, Delia Marina Podea1, Coralia Cotoraci2, Pavel Dan Nanu3 |
| Affiliation: | 1 Psychiatry Department, West University “Vasile Goldiş” of Arad 2 Hematology Department, West University “Vasile Goldiş” of Arad 3 Neurology Department, West University “Vasile Goldiş” of Arad |
| Abstract text: | Many patients with cancer diseases suffer of depression, whose diagnosis is very difficult to make in the context of cancer. Fatigue, loss of appetite, anorexia and weight loss are almost universal symptoms and appear in cancer diseases and also in depression. These symptoms could be a part of physical disease (a symptom or an adverse event of the treatment) and also could be criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD). On the other hand, the patients and their families believe that depression is a normal reaction to the physical disease, so MDD is undiagnosed and finally untreated. Objective: The purpose of this study is to diagnose MDD and to determine its influence to the prognostic and outcome of cancer diseases. Material and methods: The study comprises 30 patients diagnosed with cancer. These patients were admitted in the Hematological Clinic of Arad during May 2007 – October 2007 and were evaluated physically, psychiatric and psychological. The psychological evaluation was made with Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD) and Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAFscore) at admission and after 3 weeks of antidepressant treatment. The patients were divided into two groups: Group A – 15patients diagnosed with MDD, that were undergoing mirtazapine; Group B – 15 patients that were not treated with antidepressants. Results: The majority of the patients (n=16) were diagnosed with moderate depressive episode and only4 patients weren’t diagnose with depression. Fatigue was present to all patients included into the study while weight loss and loss of appetite were present to 16 and 12 patients. The evolution of average of HAMD scores was better in group A than in group B (5 vs. 1.73). GAF score of 90-81.80-71.70-61 point was recorded in a higher percentage in the patients of group A. Conclusions: Patients with cancer have a high rate of MDD. MDD is a negative prognostic factor for cancer diseases. It influences and modifies the prognostic of disease. |
| Keywords: | major depression, cancer diseases, evolution, prognostic |
| Presentation type: | Oral |
| Correspondence: | no. 1 Feleacului St. Arad, Romania |
| Email: | ramona_chenderes@yahoo.com |
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