Depression in women treated for gynecological cancer: clinical and neuroendocrine assessment.
To determine the prevalence of major depression in cancer patients and assess the usefulness of the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) and the thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation test for diagnosing major depression in these patients, the authors studied 83 women hospitalized for gynecological cancer. Nineteen (23%) had major depression according to DSM-III criteria. The sensitivity and specificity of the DST were 40% and 88%, respectively. No relationship between DST and TRH test results was found. These findings indicate a high prevalence of depression in cancer patients, but further research on these tests in cancer patients is needed; their routine use with cancer patients is premature at this time.
Evans
D L
DL
McCartney
C F
CF
Nemeroff
C B
CB
Raft
D
D
Quade
D
D
Golden
R N
RN
Haggerty
J J
JJ
Holmes
V
V
Simon
J S
JS
Droba
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003907:Dexamethasone; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone
D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; D003907:Dexamethasone; D013972:Thyrotropin; D006854:Hydrocortisone