Depression and survival in metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer: effects of early palliative care.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

In a randomized trial, early palliative care (EPC) in patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was observed to improve survival. In a secondary analysis, we explored the hypothesis that the survival benefit resulted from improving depression.

Patients and methods

In total, 151 patients with newly diagnosed metastatic NSCLC participated in a randomized trial of EPC integrated with standard oncology care versus standard oncology care alone. Depression was assessed at baseline and at 12 weeks with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and was scored diagnostically by using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition, criteria for major depression syndrome (MDS). Depression response was considered ≥ 50% reduction in PHQ-9 sc

SUBMITTER: Pirl WF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3341144 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature