title: The assessment and prevalence of affective disorders in advanced cancer.
abstract: The assessment of depression in patients with advanced cancer presents a difficult clinical challenge. Reported prevalence rates of depression in cancer patients range from 3.7% to 58%. Studies using structured diagnostic interviews and clearly defined diagnostic criteria are presented. The current literature suggests that among hospitalized cancer patients with significant levels of physical impairment at least 25% suffer from clinically important depression. Risk of suicide and recent literature regarding early wish to die are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Lynch
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology