[Antidepressants in oncology: issues and clinical perspectives]

Bull Cancer. 2008 Nov;95(11):1103-11. doi: 10.1684/bdc.2008.0736.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Antidepressants in oncology offer a wide range of applications in everyday supportive care while at the same time, they are often not well known by oncologists. Several recent studies suggest that depressive disorders have a negative impact on the overall survival in oncology. The care of the depressed patient in oncology would therefore request early detection prior to adapted drug treatment and psychotherapy interventions. This requires better knowledge of antidepressants whose effectiveness has been demonstrated in severe major depression. The use of antidepressants should also be part of the therapeutic armaments in the treatment of pain and hot flushes. However, their effectiveness in improving minor depressive disorders and cancer-related fatigue has not been proved yet.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Antidepressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Depression / drug therapy*
  • Depression / prevention & control
  • Depressive Disorder / drug therapy*
  • Depressive Disorder / prevention & control
  • Drug Interactions
  • Fatigue / drug therapy
  • Fatigue / psychology
  • Hot Flashes / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / psychology*
  • Pain / drug therapy

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents