Depression in radiation oncology patients: a preliminary evaluation.
BACKGROUND
Some, but not all, patients undergoing radiation therapy for cancer experience depression. Recognition of depression in these patients is complicated by the effects of cancer, chemotherapy and radiation.


METHODS
Total scores of the 30-item Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self Report (IDS-SR) were used to divide 52 consecutive radiation oncology outpatients into those with depressive symptoms (n = 16) and those without (n = 36). These 2 groups were compared to find which depressive symptoms occurred and what risk factors were associated with them.


RESULTS
Cognitive and endogenous, but not vegetative, symptoms of depression were helpful in distinguishing the 2 groups. A personal or family history of treated depression-but not the number of radiation treatments received-was also predictive of those with depressive symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
The patient population studied was small and diverse. Self-reports scores, rather than structured psychiatric interviews, were used to define clinically significant depression.


CONCLUSIONS
Depressive symptoms are not inevitable with cancer. Patient reports of thoughts of death or suicide, feeling restless, or diminished mood response to good events should prompt a more thorough evaluation for depression. A personal or family history of treated depression appears to be associated with an increased risk of depressive symptoms.
University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA.
C
C
Jenkins
T J
TJ
Carmody
A J
AJ
Rush
D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*