Association between supportive care interventions and patient self-reported depression among advanced cancer outpatients.
OBJECTIVE
Advanced cancer patients often experience moderate to severe physical and emotional distress. One of the main components of emotional distress is depression. The objective of this study was to examine the association between supportive care interventions and patient self-reported depression (PSRD) among advanced cancer outpatients.


METHODS
We included consecutive patients seen in the outpatient Supportive Care Center between February 2008 and February 2010 with at least one follow-up visit. We used the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) to assess their symptom intensity. Clinical improvement of PSRD was defined as an improvement of at least 30% between the initial visit and the first follow-up. We used logistic regression models to assess possible predictors of improvement in PSRD.


RESULTS
We included 444 patients with a median age of 59 years (Q1-Q3; 51-65). The most common type of cancer was gastrointestinal (98, 22%). Out of the 444 patients, 160 (36%) reported moderate/severe depression at baseline (ESAS item score ≥ 4/10). Higher baseline depression intensity was significantly associated to anxiety (r = 0.568, p = 0.046), total symptom distress score (TSDS; r = 0.550, p < 0.001) and personal history of depression (r = 0.242, p = 0.001). Of the 160 patients, 90 (56%) with moderate/severe PSRD at baseline showed a significant improvement at the follow-up visit (p = 0.038). Improvement in anxiety, sedation, and feeling of well-being were associated with higher depression improvement (OR 7.93, CI 3.74-16.80 and OR 2.44, CI 1.09-5.46, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
More than 50% patients with moderate/severe PSRD significantly improved after one single supportive/palliative care consultation. Improvements of anxiety and sedation were independently associated with PSRD improvement.
Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd Unit 1414, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
Wadih
W
Rhondali
Sriram
S
Yennurajalingam
Jeanette
J
Ferrer
Gary
G
Chisholm
Marilene
M
Filbet
Eduardo
E
Bruera
D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D010045:Outpatients; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D057566:Self Report