Abstract
Cancer patients experience several stressors and emotional upheavals. Fear of death, interruption of life plans, changes in body image and self-esteem, changes in social role and lifestyle are all important issues to be faced. Moreover, Depressive Disorders may impact the course of the disease and compliance. The cost and prevalence, the impairment caused, and the diagnostic and therapeutic uncertainty surrounding depressive symptoms among cancer patients make these conditions a priority for research. In this article we discuss recent data, focusing on detection of Depressive Disorders, biological correlates, treatments and unmet needs of depressed cancer patients.
Highlights
Cancer accounts for nearly 25% of deaths in the United States, exceeded only by heart disease [1]
Major Depressive Disorder accounts for 4.4 percent of the overall global disease burden, a contribution similar to ischemic heart disease or diarrhoeal disease [2], and the Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) for depression in the near future will be greater than cancer or HIV related disease [3]
Grassi and Rosti found that out of 201 recently diagnosed cancer patients, 15% met the criteria for a Major Depressive Disorder [4]
Summary
Cancer accounts for nearly 25% of deaths in the United States, exceeded only by heart disease [1]. In a recent observational cohort study, conducted among 222 women with a diagnosis of early breast cancer, prevalence of depression and anxiety was 33% at diagnosis, 15% after one year, and 45% after diagnosis of recurrence [10]. Clinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health 2007, 3:2 http://www.cpementalhealth.com/content/3/1/2 stage, time from diagnosis, cancer treatment, are among the most important variables associated with prevalence of depression among cancer patients and these should be taken into account. Not all trials have taken into account the different stages of the cancer process The importance of these variables has been recently confirmed by results obtained from an observational study, conducted on 2.600 women treated for early breast cancer, showing that depressive symptoms were not associated with objective cancer-related factors [14]. In addition social support has been identified as an important factor alleviating depression in cancer patients, family counselling should be usefully employed to educate the family on depression that accompanies cancer [17]
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