Depression

Depression found to hasten decline in cancer patients

Published: August 5, 2008

Depression causes patients with advanced cancer to die sooner than they should, say scientists at the University of Liverpool.

In a six-month study patients who were found to be depressed had a 7% increased chance of dying and this percentage increased depending on the severity of the depression. Depression is common in patients with advanced cancer and in a significant number of patients it is persistent.

The researchers examined symptoms and mood in patients using a screening method originally devised for postnatal mothers, containing questions on worthlessness, subjective sadness and suicidal thoughts as well as questions about symptoms and pain. Depression affected 29% of patients at the initial screening and 54.5% of surviving patients remained depressed eight weeks later.

Professor Mari Lloyd-Williams from the School of Population, Community and Behavioural Sciences said: “Previous research has shown that stroke patients who were depressed did not regain function as well as other patients and they had a higher risk of dying – all patients who have suffered a stroke are now screened for depression but this is not the case for patients at any stage of cancer.

“We know that a patient’s mental state affects their physical state but not enough is known about why this happens. We believe that when someone is depressed they lose motivation and therefore the will to live.

“Depression affects 25% of patients with advanced cancer but at this stage it is difficult to diagnose. Whilst patients with advanced cancer are clearly very ill they can still be effectively treated for depression but the first step in the treatment is the recognition that the patient is depressed.”

Professor Lloyd-Williams and her team have been awarded Â£2.5 million to carry out further research in palliative care. They are currently working on a larger study of more than 400 patients to identify what emotional and psychological health problems cancer patients experiencing in order to better understand their mental health needs and how to improve their primary care.

Source: University pf Liverpool via Alpha Galileo

Study Identifies Changes To DNA In Major Depression And Suicide

Published: July 31, 2008

Autopsies usually point to a cause of death but now a study of brain tissue collected during these procedures, may explain an underlying cause of major depression and suicide, according to University of Western Ontario researcher. [continue reading…]

Women on antidepressants may benefit from Viagra

Published: July 24, 2008

Viagra’s effect in women has been disappointing, but a new small study finds those on antidepressants may benefit from taking the little blue pills. The research involving 98 premenopausal women found Viagra helped with orgasm. But the benefits did not extend to other aspects of sex such as desire, researchers report in Wednesday’s Journal of the American Medical Association. Read more

Source: American Psychological Association

PTSD influences levels of depression and pain

Published: July 22, 2008

Patients with accident or trauma related chronic pain often have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. What isn’t clearly known, however, is how PTSD relates to mood disorders and pain severity in chronic pain patients.

University of Michigan researchers examined the contribution of PTSD to the pain experience, functional disability and frequency of depressive symptoms. They studied 241 patients referred to the university hospital’s pain rehabilitation program who reported their pain began after a traumatic injury. The subjects completed the McGill Pain Questionnaire and were administered the Pain Disability Index and the Post-traumatic Chronic Pain Test. [continue reading…]

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