JLE

Innovations & Thérapeutiques en Oncologie

MENU

Indication of antidepressants during oncological follow-up in an hospital specialized in cancer care Volume 6, issue 6, November-December 2020

Figures


  • Figure 1

Tables

Authors
1 CH Montperrin
Service Régis Est
Avenue du Petit Barthélémy
13100 Aix en Provence
France
2 Institut Paoli-Calmettes
Département de psychologie clinique
Boulevard Ste Marguerite
13009 Marseille
France
3 Institut Paoli-Calmettes
Équipe de soins palliatifs
Boulevard Ste Marguerite
13009 Marseille
France
* Tirés à part

Depression is responsible for significant morbidity and mortality in cancer patients. The principal aim of this study was to identify the circumstances leading to introduction of antidepressants during oncological follow-up in a hospital specialized in cancer care.

Materials and methods. This was a retrospective observational study that included all patients hospitalized in 2018 at the Paoli Calmettes Institute, who were prescribed antidepressants during oncological care.

Results. The study included 264 patients, mostly women with an average age of 65 years, of whom 89.4% had anxiety and 55.3% described pain. Of the patients, 76.5% were referred to the Clinical Psychology Department, however, the psychiatrist was consulted in only 12.5% cases. The most common cancers were onco-hematological tumours (25.0%), followed by solid tumors mostly during metastatic stage. Before the introduction of antidepressants, 10.2% had already stayed in an intensive care unit and 15.2% had palliative care. The most frequently prescribed treatment was SSRIs in combination with anxiolytics and pain killers, frequently opioids.

Conclusion. Special consideration should be given to patients who fit the profile of those described in this study in order to establish the most appropriate psychological and/or psychiatric care necessary to improve oncological care management.