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Treatment of depression in adults with cancer: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 June 2013

J. Walker ,
A. Sawhney ,
C. Holm Hansen ,
S. Ahmed ,
P. Martin ,
S. Symeonides ,
G. Murray  and
M. Sharpe
J. Walker*
Affiliation:
Psychological Medicine Research, University of Oxford Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, UK
A. Sawhney
Affiliation:
Psychological Medicine Research, University of Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK
C. Holm Hansen
Affiliation:
Psychological Medicine Research, University of Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK
S. Ahmed
Affiliation:
Psychological Medicine Research, University of Oxford Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, UK
P. Martin
Affiliation:
Psychological Medicine Research, University of Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK
S. Symeonides
Affiliation:
University of Edinburgh Cancer UK Research Centre, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK
G. Murray
Affiliation:
University of Edinburgh Centre for Population Health Sciences, Edinburgh, UK
M. Sharpe
Affiliation:
Psychological Medicine Research, University of Oxford Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, UK
*
*Address for correspondence: Dr J. Walker, Psychological Medicine Research, University of Oxford Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford OX3 7JX, UK. (Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Background

Depression is a leading cause of disease burden worldwide and is especially problematic in people with chronic diseases, including cancer. Although depression can be effectively treated in the general population using antidepressant medication and psychological treatments, these treatments may have different benefits and harms in cancer patients. Previous reviews have not adequately addressed this topic. We therefore aimed to determine which, if any, treatments are effective for patients with diagnoses of both cancer and depression.

Method

We conducted a systematic review of relevant randomized controlled trials identified through searches of Medline, EMBASE, PsycINFO and The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL).

Results

Seven relatively small trials met the selection criteria. These provided some evidence that antidepressant medication, given alone or in combination with a psychological treatment, may be effective. We found no good evidence for psychological treatments given alone or for any other forms of treatment.

Conclusions

There is very limited evidence from clinical trials to guide the treatment of cancer patients with a diagnosis of depression, especially for psychological treatments. High quality trials of treatments for depression in patients with cancer are urgently needed.

Keywords

Cancerdepressionsystematic reviewtreatment
Type
Review Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 44 , Issue 5 , April 2014 , pp. 897 - 907
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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