title: Treatment of depression as part of end-of-life care.
abstract: We present a case report of a severe treatment resistant major depressive episode in a patient with advanced cancer and limited life expectancy which resolved completely within 10 days of commencing combination therapy involving mirtazepine and paroxetine. Aggressive treatment of clinical depression even in the context of short life expectancy (that is, a short number of weeks) can dramatically reduce patient and family distress and improve quality of life.
authors: Marymount Hospice, Cork, Ireland. breffnilhannon@yahoo.co.uk
authors: Breffni
authors: B
authors: Hannon
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Fitzgerald
authors: Marie
authors: M
authors: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000523:psychology* / Q000556:secondary; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008803:Mianserin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000078785:Mirtazapine; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013727:Terminal Care
chemical_list: D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D008803:Mianserin; D017374:Paroxetine; D000078785:Mirtazapine