Depression in women treated for gynecological cancer: clinical and neuroendocrine assessment
American Journal of PsychiatryPublished 1 April 1986
D L Evans, Cheryl F. McCartney, Charles B. Nemeroff, David Raft, D Quade, R N Golden
Citations110
SJR quartileQ1
SJR score5.27
SNIP3.68
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TL;DR
A high prevalence of depression in cancer patients and the usefulness of the dexamethasone suppression test and the thyrotropin-releasing hormone stimulation test for diagnosing major depression in patients suggests their routine use with cancer patients is premature at this time.
Abstract
To determine the prevalence of major depression in cancer patients and assess the usefulness of the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) and the thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation test for diagnosing major depression in these patients, the authors studied 83 women hospitalized for gynecological cancer. Nineteen (23%) had major depression according to DSM-III criteria. The sensitivity and specificity of the DST were 40% and 88%, respectively. No relationship between DST and TRH test results was found. These findings indicate a high prevalence of depression in cancer patients, but further research on these tests in cancer patients is needed; their routine use with cancer patients is premature at this time.
Keywords
MedicineNeuroscience
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