GOALS OF WORK: Cancer is often burdened by psychological comorbidity, mainly represented by depression, anxiety and adjustment disorders. Efficacy and tolerability of sertraline in the treatment of depressive disorders is well known; however, its efficacy and safety in patients with cancer has been poorly studied. This study was aimed to provide evidences of effectiveness, safety, tolerability and rapidity of action of sertraline in a population of oncological outpatients affected by mood disorders and its effects on quality of life. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-five adult cancer outpatients with mood depression, during chemotherapy, were enrolled to a 12-week trial with a flexible dose regime of sertraline. The treatment response was assessed at baseline, week 4 and week 12, with hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) and Montgomery Asberg depression rating scale (MADRS), to rate depression and anxiety; mini mental adjustment to cancer scale (Mini-MAC), to assess the psychological response to the diagnosis of cancer; clinical global impression (CGI) to evaluate severity of illness; dosage record and treatment emergent symptom scale (DOTES), to assess the adverse effects of the clinical treatments and their possible relation with the drug used; and QL index to rate quality of life. MAIN RESULTS: Both mean depression scores, analysed by HADS and MADRS scales, and HADS anxiety scores significantly decreased during the 12 weeks of study. Mean MINI-MAC scores show that hopelessness and anxious preoccupation decreased significantly at T2 compared with T0. No severe adverse effects were observed. CONCLUSION: In this preliminary study, sertraline was found to be effective and well tolerated in the treatment of depressed outpatients with cancer.
Sertraline effectiveness and safety in depressed oncological patients
TORTA, Riccardo;
2008-01-01
Abstract
GOALS OF WORK: Cancer is often burdened by psychological comorbidity, mainly represented by depression, anxiety and adjustment disorders. Efficacy and tolerability of sertraline in the treatment of depressive disorders is well known; however, its efficacy and safety in patients with cancer has been poorly studied. This study was aimed to provide evidences of effectiveness, safety, tolerability and rapidity of action of sertraline in a population of oncological outpatients affected by mood disorders and its effects on quality of life. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-five adult cancer outpatients with mood depression, during chemotherapy, were enrolled to a 12-week trial with a flexible dose regime of sertraline. The treatment response was assessed at baseline, week 4 and week 12, with hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) and Montgomery Asberg depression rating scale (MADRS), to rate depression and anxiety; mini mental adjustment to cancer scale (Mini-MAC), to assess the psychological response to the diagnosis of cancer; clinical global impression (CGI) to evaluate severity of illness; dosage record and treatment emergent symptom scale (DOTES), to assess the adverse effects of the clinical treatments and their possible relation with the drug used; and QL index to rate quality of life. MAIN RESULTS: Both mean depression scores, analysed by HADS and MADRS scales, and HADS anxiety scores significantly decreased during the 12 weeks of study. Mean MINI-MAC scores show that hopelessness and anxious preoccupation decreased significantly at T2 compared with T0. No severe adverse effects were observed. CONCLUSION: In this preliminary study, sertraline was found to be effective and well tolerated in the treatment of depressed outpatients with cancer.
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