title: Effects of sertraline on executive function and quality of life in patients with advanced cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to investigate effects of the antidepressant sertraline on executive function and quality of life in patients with advanced cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assigned 122 patients with stage III or IV cancer to the depressed group (DG, n=86) or the non-depressed group (NG, n=36). All subjects were given supportive treatment and patients in the DG received additional antidepressant treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant differences in total scores of the Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA) and the Hamilton depression scale (HAMD), performance in the Wisconsin card sorting test, and SF-36 domains. After antidepressant treatment, the level of depression and anxiety decreased significantly in the DG, but was still significantly higher than in the NG. Low executive function was enhanced in the DG, but a worsening executive function was found in total errors in the NG (-2.3±3.8) (P<0.05). The dimensions of SF-36 in physical functioning (PF), role limitations-physical (RP), bodily pain (BP), general health (GH), vitality (VT), social functioning (SF), role limitations-emotional (RE), and mental health (MH) were decreased significantly at baseline in the DG compared to the NG (P<0.01). After 12-week Sertraline treatment, improvement in the DG in factors VT, SF, RE, and MH were more powerful than in the NG (P<0.05). HAMA, HAMD, and VAS scores and tumor stage were significantly correlated to any one dimension of quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Depression is an important cause of decreased quality of life and executive function in patients with advanced cancer. The antidepressant sertraline can improve the executive function and quality of life, which may be helpful in the clinical practice of cancer treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Xu-Juan
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Xiaoying Street Community Health Center, Hangzhou, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Zhi-Yuan
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Bei-Ying
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Zhejiang Hospital of Oncology, Hangzhou, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Jia-Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Zhen
authors.affiliation: Department of Breast Surgery, Shanxi Hospital of Oncology, Taiyuan, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Wen-Fu
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrated Internal Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China (mainland).
authors.forename: De-Qiang
authors.initials: DQ
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D056344:Executive Function / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D020280:Sertraline / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D020280:Sertraline