Depression in patients with advanced cancer and pain.
OBJECTIVE
The importance of emotional symptoms in the context of the health-disease binomium, and efforts to spread information on Palliative Medicine motivated this article. The objective of this literature review was to propose a reflection on the diagnosis of depression in patients with advanced cancer with pain, based on existing concepts and definitions.


BACKGROUND
Pain and depression are prevalent symptoms in cancer patients. Considering the different points of intersection between physical and mental diseases, sometimes the diagnosis of depression in patients with cancer and pain is difficult. This datum is very important because depression decreases considerably the quality of life of patients, and should be diagnosed and treated properly


CONCLUSIONS
After reviewing the literature, a few questions remained unanswered. This fact awakens the interest to undertake studies that propose precise diagnostic solutions and efficient treatment of this symptom in patients with advanced cancer.
Juver
Jeane Pereira da Silva
JP
Pós-Graduação em Cirurgia Geral, Departamento de Cirurgia Geral da Faculdade de Medicina da UFRJ (FM/UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ. jeanejuver@terra.com.br
Verçosa
Núbia
N
D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D010146:Pain / Q000150:complications*