Review of psychotherapeutic interventions on depression in cancer patients and their impact on disease progression

Abstract

Depression, ranging from mild to severe, is the most frequently found psychological symptom among individuals with cancer. Depression in cancer patients has been known to mitigate emotional distress, quality of life, adherence to medical treatment, and overall health outcomes. Specifically, depression has been associated with impaired immune response and with poorer survival in patients with cancer. Various studies have found that psychotherapeutic interventions are effective in reducing symptoms of depression, which in turn could affect disease progression and mortality. This paper provides updated information on psychotherapeutic interventions geared towards cancer patients suffering from depressive disorders, and its impact on disease progression. PubMed, Cochrane Library database, PsycINFO and PsycARTICLES databases were searched from January 1980 through August 2013 using key words: psychotherapy, treatment, oncology, cancer, psycho-oncology, psychosocial issues, psychosocial stress, depression, mood disorder, and psychoneuroimmunology.

Increased risk of major depression subsequent to a first-attack and non-infection caused urticaria in adolescence: a nationwide population-based study

“…We used the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test to estimate survival curves and to compare the one-year depression-free survival rate among urticaria patients versus patients in the control group. Finally, in the control group, chronic conditions (e.g., allergic rhinitis, asthma, attention deficit disorder, atopic dermatitis, hypertension, epilepsy, diabetes, congenital heart diseases, cerebral palsy and cancer) were identified that might increase the risk for affective or anxious disorders [22-31]. …”

Developing a clinical pathway for the identification and management of anxiety and depression in adult cancer patients: an online Delphi consensus process

“…Early detection and treatment of anxiety and depression symptoms not only reduce patient suffering and the likelihood of developing a major mood disorder, but directly impact on the health service through increased treatment adherence and lower health service utilisation [2]. However, despite being readily treatable and having a strong evidence-base for interventions [3][4][5], anxiety/depression are often undetected, overlooked and their severity underestimated [6] in busy cancer services.…”

Implementation of distress screening in an oncology setting

“…6 In some studies, elevated distress has also been linked to poorer health outcomes, such as higher mortality, greater morbidity, and poorer immune functioning. 7,8 In addition, other outcomes such as medical expenditures and occupational func- The recommendations of numerous groups, such as the Institute of Medicine and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, have resulted in the frst regulatory standard on distress screening in oncology implemented in 2015 by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. This practice-changing standard promises to result in better quality cancer care, but presents unique challenges to many centers struggling to provide high-quality practical assessment and management of distress.…”