Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Depression

  • Chapter
Handbook of Cancer Survivorship

Abstract

The focus of this chapter is on the presence of depression in cancer survivors.We will not focus on the related issues of anxiety (including posttraumatic stress disorders), or the broader concept of distress. We will also try to restrict our discussion to the occurrence of depression as a unitary construct, although we are fully aware that depression commonly co-occurs with pain and fatigue, as well as the aforementioned psychiatric conditions. The definition of depression that we will use will be outlined in the pages that follow, but to the extent possible, whenever researchers have not used clinical interviews to determine depression, this will be noted.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Northouse, L.L., Laten, D., and Reddy, P. Adjustment of women and their husbands to recurrent breast cancer. Res. Nurs. Health 1995: 18; 515–24.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edn. American Psychiatric Association: Washington, DC, 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Cohen-Cole, S.A., Brown, F.W., and McDaniel, J.S. Assessment of depression and grief reactions in the medically ill. In: Stoudemire, A., and Fogel, B.S. (eds.). Psychiatric Care of the Medical Patient. Oxford University Press: New York, 1993, pp. 53–69.

    Google Scholar 

  4. McDaniel, J.S., Brown, F.W., and Cole, S.A. Assessment of depression and grief reactions in the medically ill. In: Stoudemire, A., Fogel, B.S., and Greenberg, D.B. (eds.). Psychiatric Care of the Medical Patient, 2nd edn. Oxford University Press: New York, 2000, pp. 149–64.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Trask, P.C. Assessment of depression in cancer patients. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. Monogr. 2004; 32, 80–92.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Zigmond, A.S., and Snaith, R.P. The hospital anxiety and depression scale. Acta Psychiatr. Scand. 1983; 67: 361–70.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. DeHaes, J.C.J.M, Van Knippenberg, F.C.E., and Nejit, J.P. Measuring psychological and physical distress in cancer patients: Structured and application of the Rotterdam Symptom Checklist. Br. J. Cancer 1990; 62: 1034.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Beck, A.T., Ward, C.H., Mendelson, M., Mock, J., and Erbaugh, J. An inventory for measuring depression. Arch. Gen. Psychiatry 1961; 4: 561–71.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Beck, A.T., and Beck, R.W. Screening depressed patients in family practice: A rapid technique. Postgrad. Med.1972; 52: 81–5.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Derogatis, L.R., and Melisaratos, N. The Brief Symptom Inventory: An introductory report. Psychol. Med. 1983; 13: 595–605.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Derogatis, L.R. The Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) Administration, Scoring and Procedures Manual-II. Clinical Psychometric Research, Inc., Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Boulet, J., and Boss, M.W. Reliability and validity of the Brief Symptom Inventory. Psychol. Assess. 1991; 3: 433–437.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Radloff, L.S. The CES-D scale: A self-report depression scale for research in the general population. Appl. Psychol. Meas. 1977; 1: 385–01.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Zung, W.W.K. Depression in the normal aged. Psychosomatics 1967; 8: 287–92.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Zung, W.W.K. Factors influencing the self-rating depression scale. Arch. Gen. Psychiatry 1967; 16: 543–7.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Endicott, J., and Spitzer, R.L. A diagnostic interview: The schedule for affective disorders and schizophrenia. Arch. Gen. Psychiatry 1978; 35: 837–44.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Spitzer, R., Williams, J., Gibbons, M., et al. Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R (SCID). Users Guide for the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R. American Psychiatric Press: Washington, DC, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Massie, M.J., and Popkin, M.K. Depressive disorders. In: Holland, J.C. (eds.). Psycho-oncology. Oxford University Press: New York, 1998, pp. 518–40.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Robins, L.N., Helzer, J.E., Croughan, J., and Ratcliff, K.S. National Institute of Mental Health Diagnostic Interview Schedule: Its history, characteristics, and validity. Arch. Gen. Psychiatry 1981; 38(4): 381–9.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Alexander, P.J., Dinesh, N., and Vidyasagar, M.S. Psychiatric morbidity among cancer patients and its relationship with awareness of illness and expectations about treatment outcome. Acta Oncol. 1993; 32: 623–6.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Berard, R.M.F., Boermeester, F., and Viljoen, G. Depressive disorders in an out-patient oncology setting: prevalence, assessment, and management. Psychooncology 1998; 7: 112–20.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Ciaramella, A., and Poli, P. Assessment of depression among cancer patients: The role of pain, cancer type and treatment. Psychooncology 2001; 10: 156–65.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Lynch, M.E. The assessment and prevalence of affective disorders in advanced cancer. J. Palliat. Care 1995; 11(1): 10–18.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Hall, A., Hern, R.A., and Fallowfield, L. Are we using appropriate self-report questionnaires for detecting anxiety and depression in women with early breast cancer? Eur. J. Cancer 1999; 35(1): 79–85.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Evans, D.L., McCartney, C.F., Nemeroff, C.B., Raft, D., Quade, D., Golden, R.N., et al. Depression in women treated for gynecological cancer: Clinical and neuroendocrine assessment. Am. J. Psychiatry 1986; 143: 447–52.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Golden, R.N., McCartney, C.F., Haggerty, J.J., Raft, D., Nemeroff, C.B., Ekstrom, D., et al. The detection of depression by patient self-report in women with gynecologic cancer. Intl. J. Psychiatry Med. 1991; 21: 17–27.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Keller, M., Sommerfeldt, S., Fischer, C., Knight, L., Riesbeck, M., Lowe, B., et al. Recognition of distress and psychiatric morbidity in cancer patients: A multi-method approach. Ann. Oncol. 2004; 15: 1243–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Burgess, C., Cornelius, V., Love, S., Graham, J., Richards, M., and Ramirez, A. Depression and anxiety in women with early breast cancer: Five year observational cohort study. BMJ 2005; 330(7493): 702–705.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Nordin, K., and Glimelius, B. Predicting delayed anxiety and depression in patients with gastrointestinal cancer. Br. J. Cancer 1999; 79: 525–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Iconomou, G., Mega, V., Koutras, A., Iconomou, A.V., and Kalofonos, H.P. Prospective assessment of emotional distress, cognitive function, and quality of life in patients with cancer treated with chemotherapy. Cancer 2004: 101; 404–11.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Stommel, M., Kurtz, M.E., Kurtz, J.C., Given, C.W., and Given, B.A. A longitudinal analysis of the course of depressive symptomatology in geriatric patients with cancer of the breast, colon, lung, or prostate. Health Psychol. 2004: 23; 564–73.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Frost, M.H., Suman, V.J., Rummans, T.A., Dose, A.M., Taylor, M., Novotny, P., et al. Physical, psychological and social well-being of women with breast cancer: The influence of disease phase. Psycho-oncology 2000: 9; 221–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Chen, H., Cantor, A., Meyer, J., Corcoran, M.B., Grendys, E., Cavanaugh, D., et al. Can older cancer patients tolerate chemotherapy? A prospective pilot study. Cancer 2003: 97; 1107–14.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Ahles, T.A., Herndon, J.E., Small, E.J., Vogelzang, N.J., Kornblith, A.B., Ratain, M.J., et al. Quality of life impact of three difference doses of suramin in patients with metastatic hormone-refractory prostate carcinoma. Results of intergroup 0159/Cancer and leukemia group B9480. Cancer 2004: 101; 2202–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Trask, P.C., Paterson, A.G., Esper, P., Pau, J., and Redman, B. Longitudinal course of depression, fatigue, and quality of life in patients with high-risk melanoma receiving adjuvant interferon. Psycho-Oncology 2004: 13(8); 526–36.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Epping-Jordan, J.E., Compas, B.E., Osowiecki, D.M., Oppedisano, G., Gerhardt, C., Primo, K., et al. Psychological adjustment in breast cancer: Processes of emotional distress. Health Psychol. 1999: 18; 315–26.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Kornblith, A.B., and Ligibel, J. Psychosocial and sexual functioning of survivors of breast cancer. Semin. Oncol. 2003: 30(6); 799–813.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Massie, M.J. Prevalence of depression in patients with cancer [Monographs]. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 2004: 32;57–71.

    Google Scholar 

  39. DeWalden-Galuszko, K. Prevalence of psychological morbidity in terminally ill cancer patients. Psycho-Oncology 1996: 5; 45–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Kramer, J.A. Use of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) in the assessment of depression in patients with inoperable lung cancer. Palliat. Med. 1999: 13; 353–4.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Stromgren, A.S., Sjogren, P., Goldschmidt, D., Petersen, M.A., Pedersen, L., Hoermann, L., and Groenvold, M. A longitudinal study of palliative care: Patient-evaluated outcome and impact of attrition. Cancer 2005: 103(8); 1747–55.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Allen, R., Newman, S.P., and Souhami, R.L. Anxiety and depression in adolescent cancer: Findings, patients and parents at time of diagnosis. Eur. J. Cancer 1997: 33; 1250–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Derks, W., De Leeuw, R., Winnubst, J., and Hordijk, G.J. Elderly patients with head and neck cancer: Physical, social and psychological aspects after 1 year. Acta Otolaryngol. 2004: 124(4); 509–14.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Hipkins, J., Whitworth, M., Tarrier, N., and Jayson, G. Social support, anxiety and depression after chemotherapy for ovarian cancer: A prospective study. Br. J. Health Psychol. 2004: 9(Pt. 4); 569–81.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Middelboe, T., Ovesen, L., Mortensen, E.L., and Bech, P. Sepressive symptoms in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: A psychometric analysis. Psychother. Psychosom. 1994: 61; 171–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Goldberg, J.A., Scott, R.N., and Davidson, P.M. Psychological morbidity in the first year after breast surgery. Eur. J. Surgical Oncol. 1992: 18; 327–31.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Sneeuw, K.C.A., Aaronson, N.K., van Wouwe, M.C.C., Sergeant, J.A., van Dongen, J.A., and Bartelink, H. Prevalence and screening of psychiatric disorder in patients with early stage breast cancer (abstract). Qual. Life Res. 1993: 2; 50–1.

    Google Scholar 

  48. Ganz, P.A., Kwan, L., Stanton, A.L., Krupnick, J.L., Rowland, J.H., Meyerowitz, B.E., Bower, J.E., and Belin, T.R. Quality of life at the end of primary treatment of breast cancer: First results from the moving beyond cancer randomized trial. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 2004: 96(5); 376–87.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Deimling, G.T., Kahana, B., Bowman, K.F., and Schaefer, M.L. Cancer survivorship and psychological distress in later life. Psycho-Oncology 2002: 11; 479–94.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Hjermstad, M.J., Knobel, H., Brinch, L., Fayers, P.M., Loge, J.H., Holte, H., and Kaasa, S. A prospective study of health-related quality of life, fatigue, anxiety and depression 3–5 years after stem cell transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2004: 34(3); 257–66.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Syrjala, K.L., Langer, S.L., Abrams, J.R., Storer, B., Sanders, J.E., Flowers, M.E., and Martin, P.J. Recovery and long-term function after hematopoietic cell transplantation for leukemia or lymphoma. JAMA 2004: 291(19); 2335–43.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Schroevers, M.J., Ranchor, A.V., and Sanderman, R. The role of age at the onset of cancer in relation to survivors' long-term adjustment: A controlled comparison over an eight-year period. Psycho-Oncology 2004: 13; 740–52.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Weitzner, M.A., Meyers, C.A., Stuebing, K.K., and Saleeba, A.K. Relationship between quality of life and mood in long-term survivors of breast cancer treated with mastectomy. Support. Care Cancer 1997; 5: 241–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Kissane, D.W., Clarke, D.M., Ikin, J., Bloch, S., Smith, G.C., and Vitetta, L. Psychological morbidity and quality of life in Australian women with early-stage breast cancer: a cross-sectional survey. Med. J. Aust. 1998; 169: 192–6.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Grassi, I., Rosti, G., Albertazzi, L., and Marangolo, M. Depressive symptoms in autologous bone marrow transplant (ABMT) patients with cancer: An exploratory study. Psycho-Oncology 1996; 5: 305–10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  56. De Leeuw, J.R.J., de Graeff, A., Ros, W.J.G., Hordijk, G.J., Blijham, G.H., and Winnubst, J.A.M. Negative and positive influences of social support on depression in patients with head and neck cancer: A prospective study. Psycho-Oncology 2000; 9: 20–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Hutton, J.M., and Williams, M. An investigation of psychological distress in patients who have been treated for head and neck cancer. Br. J. Oral and Maxillofac. Surg. 2001; 39: 333–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Hammerlid, E., Ahiner-Elmqvist, M., Bjordal, K., Bjorklund, A., Evensen, J., and Boysen, M. A prospective multicentre study in Sweden and Norway of mental distress and psychiatric morbidity in head and neck cancer patients. Br. J. Cancer 1999; 80: 766–74.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Hack, T.F., and Degner, L.F. Coping responses following breast cancer diagnosis predict psychological adjustment three years later. Psycho-Oncology 2004; 13: 235–47.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. McCaul, K.D., Sandgren, A.K., King, B., O'Donnell, S., Branstetter, A., and Foreman, G. Coping and adjustment to breast cancer. Psycho-Oncology 1999; 8: 230–6.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Moorey, S., Frampton, M., and Greer, S. The cancer coping questionnaire: A self-rating scale for measuring the impact of adjuvant psychological therapy on coping behaviour. Psycho-Oncology 2003; 12: 331–44.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Nordin, K., and Glimelius, B. Reactions to gastrointestinal cancer-variation in mental adjustment and emotional well-being over time in patients with different prognoses. Psycho-Oncology 1998; 7: 413–23.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  63. Schou, I., Ekeberg, O., Ruland, C.M., Sandvik, L., and Karesen, R. Pessimism as a predictor of emotional morbidity one year following breast cancer surgery. Psycho-Oncology 2004; 13: 309–20.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. Deimling, G.T., Wagner, L.J., Bowman, K.F., Sterns, S., Kercher, K., and Kahana, B. Coping among older-adult, long-term cancer survivors. Psycho-Oncology 2006; 15(2): 143–159.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  65. Golden-Kreutz, D.M., and Andersen, B.L. Depressive symptoms after breast cancer surgery: Relationships with global, cancer-related and life event stress. Psycho-Oncology 2004: 13(3); 211–20.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Watson, M., Haviland, J.S., Greer, S., Davidson, J., and Bliss, J.M. Influence of psychological response on survival in breast cancer: A population-based cohort study. Lancet 1999; 354: 1331–36.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  67. Buccheri, G. Depressive reactions to lung cancer are common and often followed by a poor outcome. Eur. Respir. J. 1998: 11; 173–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  68. Loberiza, F.R., Rizzo, J.D., Bredeson, C.N., Antin, J.H., Horowitz, M.M., and Weeks, J.C. Association of depressive syndrome and early deaths among patients after stem-cell transplantation for malignant diseases. J. Clin. Oncol. 2002: 20; 2118–26.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  69. De Bock, G.H., Bonnema, J., Zwaan, R.E., van de Velde, C.J., Kievit, J., and Stiggelbout, A.M. Patient's needs and preferences in routine follow-up after treatment for breast cancer. Br. J. Cancer 2004: 90(6); 1144–50.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  70. Geinitz, H., Zimmermann, F.B., Thamm, R., Keller, M., Busch, R., and Molls, M. Fatigue in patients with adjuvant radiation therapy for breast cancer: Long-term follow-up. J. Cancer Res.Clin. Oncol. 2004: 130(6); 327–33.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  71. Yao, J.K., and Reddy, R.D. Metabolic investigation in psychiatric disorders. Mol. Neurobiol. 2005: 31(1–3); 193–203.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  72. Slimmer, L.M., Lyness, J.M., and Caine, E.D. Stress, medical illness and depression. Semin. Clin. Neuropsychiatry 2001: 6(1); 12–26.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  73. Roscoe, J.A., Morrow, G.R., Hickok, J.T., Mustian, K.M., Griggs, J.J., Matteson, S.E., Bushunow, P., Qazi, R., and Smith, B. Effect of paroxetine hydrochloride (Paxil) on fatigue and depression in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Breast Cancer Res. Treat. 2005: 89(3); 243–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  74. Dimeo, F., Schmittel, A., Fietz, T., Schwartz, S., Kohler, P., Boning, D., and Thiel, E. Physical performance, depression, immune status and fatigue in patients with hematological malignancies after treatment. Ann. Oncol. 2004: 15(8); 1237–42.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  75. Andrykowski, M.A., Schmidt, J.E., Salsman, J.M., Beacham, A.O., and Jacobsen, P.B. Use of a case definition approach to identify cancer-related fatigue in women undergoing adjuvant therapy for breast cancer. J. Clin. Oncol. 2005: 23(27); 6613–22.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  76. Strong, V., Sharpe, M., Cull, A., Maguire, P., House, A., and Ramirez, A. Can oncology nurses treat depression? A pilot study. J. Adv. Nurs. 2004: 46(5); 542–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  77. Given, B., Wyatt, G., Given, C., Sherwood, P., Gift, A., DeVoss, D., and Rahbar, M. Burden and depression among caregivers of patients with cancer at the end of life. Oncol. Nurs. Forum 2004: 31(6); 1105–17.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  78. Goodwin, P.J. Support groups in advanced cancer. Cancer, e-published, October 24, 2005.

    Google Scholar 

  79. Turner, J., Hayes, S., and Reul-Hirsche, H. Improving the physical status and quality of life of women treated for breast cancer: A pilot study of a structured exercise intervention. J. Surg. Oncol. 2005: 86(3); 141–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  80. Thorsen, L., Skovlund, E., Stromme, S.B., Hornslien, K., Dahl, A.A., and Fossa, S.D. Effectiveness of physical activity on cardiorespiratory fitness and health-related quality of life in young and middle-aged cancer patients shortly after chemotherapy. J. Clin. Oncol. 2005: 23(10); 2378–88.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  81. Cordova, M.J., and Andrykowski, M.A. Responses to cancer diagnosis and treatment: posttraumatic stress and posttraumatic growth. Semin. Clin. Neuropsychiatry 2003: 8(4); 286–96.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Peter C. Trask
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Timothy Pearman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology and Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Science, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA

    Michael Feuerstein Ph.D, MPH, ABPP

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2007 Springer

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Trask, P.C., Pearman, T. (2007). Depression. In: Feuerstein, M. (eds) Handbook of Cancer Survivorship. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-34562-8_10

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-34562-8_10

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-34561-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-34562-8

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation