Treatment of depression in adults with cancer: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Depression is a leading cause of disease burden worldwide and is especially problematic in people with chronic diseases, including cancer. Although depression can be effectively treated in the general population using antidepressant medication and psychological treatments, these treatmen...

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Main Authors: Walker, J, Sawhney, A, Hansen, C, Ahmed, S, Martin, P, Symeonides, S, Murray, G, Sharpe, M
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2014
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author Walker, J
Sawhney, A
Hansen, C
Ahmed, S
Martin, P
Symeonides, S
Murray, G
Sharpe, M
author_facet Walker, J
Sawhney, A
Hansen, C
Ahmed, S
Martin, P
Symeonides, S
Murray, G
Sharpe, M
author_sort Walker, J
collection OXFORD
description BACKGROUND: Depression is a leading cause of disease burden worldwide and is especially problematic in people with chronic diseases, including cancer. Although depression can be effectively treated in the general population using antidepressant medication and psychological treatments, these treatments may have different benefits and harms in cancer patients. Previous reviews have not adequately addressed this topic. We therefore aimed to determine which, if any, treatments are effective for patients with diagnoses of both cancer and depression. METHOD: We conducted a systematic review of relevant randomized controlled trials identified through searches of Medline, EMBASE, PsycINFO and The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL). RESULTS: Seven relatively small trials met the selection criteria. These provided some evidence that antidepressant medication, given alone or in combination with a psychological treatment, may be effective. We found no good evidence for psychological treatments given alone or for any other forms of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: There is very limited evidence from clinical trials to guide the treatment of cancer patients with a diagnosis of depression, especially for psychological treatments. High quality trials of treatments for depression in patients with cancer are urgently needed.
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spelling oxford-uuid:73bbd8ac-3043-46b6-ad55-4a43bf3950212022-03-26T19:58:23ZTreatment of depression in adults with cancer: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.Journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:73bbd8ac-3043-46b6-ad55-4a43bf395021EnglishSymplectic Elements at OxfordCambridge University Press2014Walker, JSawhney, AHansen, CAhmed, SMartin, PSymeonides, SMurray, GSharpe, MBACKGROUND: Depression is a leading cause of disease burden worldwide and is especially problematic in people with chronic diseases, including cancer. Although depression can be effectively treated in the general population using antidepressant medication and psychological treatments, these treatments may have different benefits and harms in cancer patients. Previous reviews have not adequately addressed this topic. We therefore aimed to determine which, if any, treatments are effective for patients with diagnoses of both cancer and depression. METHOD: We conducted a systematic review of relevant randomized controlled trials identified through searches of Medline, EMBASE, PsycINFO and The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL). RESULTS: Seven relatively small trials met the selection criteria. These provided some evidence that antidepressant medication, given alone or in combination with a psychological treatment, may be effective. We found no good evidence for psychological treatments given alone or for any other forms of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: There is very limited evidence from clinical trials to guide the treatment of cancer patients with a diagnosis of depression, especially for psychological treatments. High quality trials of treatments for depression in patients with cancer are urgently needed.
spellingShingle Walker, J
Sawhney, A
Hansen, C
Ahmed, S
Martin, P
Symeonides, S
Murray, G
Sharpe, M
Treatment of depression in adults with cancer: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.
title Treatment of depression in adults with cancer: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.
title_full Treatment of depression in adults with cancer: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.
title_fullStr Treatment of depression in adults with cancer: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.
title_full_unstemmed Treatment of depression in adults with cancer: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.
title_short Treatment of depression in adults with cancer: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.
title_sort treatment of depression in adults with cancer a systematic review of randomized controlled trials
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