Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Dealing with the lack of evidence to treat depression in older patients with cancer: French Societies of Geriatric Oncology (SOFOG) and PsychoOncology (SFFPO) position paper based on a systematic review

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Supportive Care in Cancer Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

Depression symptoms, frequently diagnosed in older patients with cancer, impacts on oncological treatment feasibility. The Francophone Society of Geriatric Oncology (SOFOG) has initiated a systematic review on depression treatment in older patients with cancer, to advocate guidelines.

Data sources

Medline via PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL.

Methods

We included randomized and non-randomized controlled trials, reviews and meta-analysis, retrospective and prospective cohort studies, qualitative studies, and guidelines published between January 2013 and December 2018 that involved depression with cancer in which the entire sample or a sub-group aged 65 and above. Efficacy and tolerance of depression treatment were examined, as a primary or secondary outcome, among articles published in French or English.

Results

Of 3171 references, only seven studies met our eligibility criteria. This systematic review reveals a lack of evidence-based knowledge in this field, preventing from making any recommendations on drug and non-drug therapies. It has highlighted the need for multidisciplinary collaboration with the French and Francophone Society of Psycho-Oncology.

Conclusion

In clinical practice, we advise health professionals to use the screening process not as a result but rather as an opportunity to engage with the patient and also to question the need for antidepressants and non-drug therapies.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Nelson CJ, Cho C, Berk AR, Holland J, Roth AJ (2010) Are gold standard depression measures appropriate for use in geriatric cancer patients? A systematic evaluation of self-report depression instruments used with geriatric, cancer, and geriatric cancer samples. J Clin Oncol 28:348–356. https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2009.23.0201

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Krebber AM, Buffart LM, Kleijn G et al (2014) Prevalence of depression in cancer patients: a meta-analysis of diagnostic interviews and self-report instruments. Psycho-Oncology 23:121–130. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.3409

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Goldzweig G, Baider L, Rottenberg Y, Andritsch E, Jacobs JM (2018) Is age a risk factor for depression among the oldest old with cancer? J Geriatr Oncol 9(5):476–481. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgo.2018.03.011

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Wildiers H, Heeren P, Puts M, Topinkova E, Janssen-Heijnen ML, Extermann M et al (2014) International Society of Geriatric Oncology consensus on geriatric assessment in older patients with cancer. J Clin Oncol 32:2595–2603. https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2013.54.8347

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Saracino RM, Weinberger MI, Roth AJ, Hurria A, Nelson CJ (2017) Assessing depression in a geriatric cancer population. Psychooncology 26:1484–1490. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.4160

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Magnuson A, Sattar S, Nightingale G, Saracino R, Skonecki E, Trevino KM (2019) A practical guide to geriatric syndromes in older adults with cancer: a focus on falls, cognition, polypharmacy, and depression. Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book 39:e96–e109. https://doi.org/10.1200/EDBK_237641

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. World Health Organization (2018) International Classification of Diseases-11. [Internet document]. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/classifications/icd/en/. Accessed 23 April 2020

  8. American Psychiatric Association (2013) Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel of Mental Disorders: DSM-5. [Internet document]. Retrieved from https://cdn.website-editor.net/30f11123991548a0af708722d458e476/files/uploaded/DSM%2520V.pdf. Accessed 23 April 2020

  9. Dauchy S, Leger I, des Guetz G, Ellien F, Tidjani L, Zelzl L et al (2012) What kind of psycho-oncological care for elderly cancer patients? Short guidelines from the French Society of Psycho-Oncology. Psycho-Oncol 6:43–49. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11839-012-0359-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Coelho A, Parola V, Cardoso D, Bravo ME, Apóstolo J (2017) Use of non-pharmacological interventions for comforting patients in palliative care: a scoping review. JBI Database System Rev Implement Rep 15(7):1867–1904. https://doi.org/10.11124/JBISRIR-2016-003204

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Haute Autorité de Santé (2017). Épisode dépressif caractérisé de l’adulte : prise en charge en premier recours [Internet document]. Retrieved from https://www.has-sante.fr/jcms/c_1739917/fr/episode-depressif-caracterise-de-l-adulte-prise-en-charge-en-premier-recours. Accessed 23 April 2020

  12. Weinberger MI, Roth AJ, Nelson CJ (2009) Untangling the complexities of depression diagnosis in older cancer patients. Oncologist. 14:60–66. https://doi.org/10.1634/theoncologist.2008-0147

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Seppala LJ, Wermelink AMAT, de Vries M, Ploegmakers KJ, van de Glind EMM, Daams JG et al (2018) Fall-risk-increasing drugs: a systematic review and meta-analysis: II. Psychotropics. J Am Med Dir Assoc 19(4):371.e11–371.e17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2017.12.098

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Sharma M, Loh KP, Nightingale G, Mohile SG, Holmes HM (2016) Polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medication use in geriatric oncology. J Geriatr Oncol 7(5):346–353. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgo.2016.07.010

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Hamilton M (1960) A rating scale for depression. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 23:56–62

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Beck AT, Ward CH, Mendelson M, Mock J, Erbaugh J (1961) An inventory for measuring depression. Arch Gen Psychiatry 4:561–571

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Montgomery SA, Asberg M (1979) A new depression scale designed to be sensitive to change. Br J Psychiatry 134:382–389. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.134.4.382

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Zigmond AS, Snaith RP (1983) The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Acta Psychiatr Scand 67(6):361–370

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Dai J, Liao N, Shi J, Tao JQ (2017) Study of prevalence and influencing factors of depression in tumor patients and the therapeutic effects of fluoxetine. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 21(21):4966–4974

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Haque R, Shi J, Schottinger JE, Ahmed SA, Cheetham TC, Chung J et al (2015) Tamoxifen and antidepressant drug interaction in a cohort of 16,887 breast cancer survivors. J Natl Cancer Inst 108(3). https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/djv337

  21. Ostuzzi G, Matcham F, Dauchy S, Barbui C, Hotopf M (2018) Antidepressants for the treatment of depression in people with cancer. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 4:CD011006. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD011006.pub3

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Sakaguchi S, Okamura H (2015) Effectiveness of collage activity based on a life review in elderly cancer patients: a preliminary study. Palliat Support Care 13(2):285–293. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1478951514000194

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Sharpe M, Walker J, Holm Hansen C, Martin P, Symeonides S, Gourley C et al (2014) SMaRT (Symptom Management Research Trials) Oncology-2 Team Integrated collaborative care for comorbid major depression in patients with cancer (SMaRT Oncology-2): a multicentre randomised controlled effectiveness trial. Lancet 384(9948):1099–1108. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61231-9

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Vyas A, Babcock Z, Kogut S (2017) Impact of depression treatment on health-related quality of life among adults with cancer and depression: a population-level analysis. J Cancer Surviv 11(5):624–633. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-017-0635-y

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Yagli NV, Ulger O (2015) The effects of yoga on the quality of life and depression in elderly breast cancer patients. Complement Ther Clin Pract 21(1):7–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2015.01.002

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Walker J, Sharpe M, Kroenke K, Murray G (2010) The HSCL-20: one questionnaire, two versions. J Psychosom Res 68:313–314. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2009.11.002

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Fisch MJ, Loehrer PJ, Kristeller J, Passik S, Jung S, Shen J, Arquette MA, Brames MJ, Einhorn LH, Hoosier Oncology Group (2003) Fluoxetine versus placebo in advanced cancer outpatients: a double-blinded trial of the Hoosier Oncology Group. J Clin Oncol 21(10):1937–1943. https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2003.08.025

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Musselman DL, Somerset WI, Guo Y, Manatunga AK, Porter M, Penna S, Lewison B, Goodkin R, Lawson K, Lawson D, Evans DL, Nemeroff CB (2006) A double-blind, multicenter, parallel-group study of paroxetine, desipramine, or placebo in breast cancer patients (stages I, II, III, and IV) with major depression. J Clin Psychiatry 67(2):288–296. https://doi.org/10.4088/jcp.v67n0217

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Razavi D, Allilaire JF, Smith M, Salimpour A, Verra M, Desclaux B, Saltel P, Piollet I, Gauvain-Piquard A, Trichard C, Cordier B, Fresco R, Guillibert E, Sechter D, Orth JP, Bouhassira M, Mesters P, Blin P (1996) The effect of fluoxetine on anxiety and depression symptoms in cancer patients. Acta Psychiatr Scand 94:205–210. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0447.1996.tb09850.x

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Elias R, Loh KP, Targia V, Whitehead M, Canin B, Jatoi A et al (2020) Behavioral, psychological, and supportive care interventions in geriatric oncology: the Cancer and Aging Research Group infrastructure core. J Geriatr Oncol 11(2):347–349. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgo.2019.07.019

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Schroyen S, Adam S, Jerusalem G, Missotten P (2014) Ageism and its clinical impact in oncogeriatry: state of knowledge and therapeutic leads. Clin Interv Aging 10:117–125. https://doi.org/10.2147/CIA.S70942

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  32. Choi JW, Park EC (2019) Suicide risk after cancer diagnosis among older adults: a nationwide retrospective cohort study [published online ahead of print, 2019 Nov 28]. J Geriatr Oncol S1879-4068(19):30379–30819. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgo.2019.11.006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Hsu T, Loscalzo M, Ramani R, Forman S, Popplewell L, Clark K, Katheria V, Feng T, Strowbridge R, Rinehart R, Smith D, Matthews K, Dillehunt J, Hurria A (2014) Factors associated with high burden in caregivers of older adults with cancer. Cancer 120(18):2927–2935. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.28765

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  34. Simmons LA (2007) Self-perceived burden in cancer patients: validation of the Self-perceived Burden Scale. Cancer Nurs 30(5):405–411. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NCC.0000290816.37442.af

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Carver CS (1997) You want to measure coping but your protocol’s too long: consider the brief COPE. Int J Behav Med 4(1):92–100. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327558ijbm0401_6

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. De Vries M, van Weert JC, Jansen J, Lemmens VE, Maas HA (2007) Step by step development of clinical care pathways for older cancer patients: necessary or desirable? Eur J Cancer 43(15):2170–2178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejca.2007.08.004

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Piau A, Bourgade G, Berbon C, Nourhashemi F, Louit C, Balardy L (2019) Access to individualized oncology care for older patients in complex healthcare networks: The skilled nurse option. J Geriatr Oncol S1879-4068(19):30329–30327. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgo.2019.10.014

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Nelson CJ, Saracino RM, Roth AJ, Harvey E, Martin A, Moore M et al (2019) Cancer and aging: reflections for elders (CARE): a pilot randomized controlled trial of a psychotherapy intervention for older adults with cancer. Psychooncology 28(1):39–47. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.4907

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Scotté F, Bossi P, Carola E, Cudennec T, Dielenseger P, Gomes F et al (2018) Addressing the quality of life needs of older patients with cancer: a SIOG consensus paper and practical guide. Ann Oncol 29(8):1718–1726. https://doi.org/10.1093/annonc/mdy228

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the SOFOG and SFFPO scientific directors for having sustained this project.

Funding

The geriatricians’ research time is funded by the French National Cancer Institute (INCa) via the regional Coordination Units in Geriatric Oncology (UCOG).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Normandy Interregional Oncogeriatric Coordination Unit, Rue Bailey, 14000, Caen, France

    Bérengère Beauplet

  2. Department of Geriatric Medicine, Caen Universitary Hospital Center, Avenue Côte de Nacre, 14 033 cedex 9, Caen, France

    Bérengère Beauplet

  3. Normandie University, UniCaen, INSERM, U1086, ANTICIPE, Avenue du General Harris, 14000, Caen, France

    Bérengère Beauplet

  4. Psycho-Oncology Unit, Supportive Care Department, Curie Institute, 75005, Paris, France

    Ophélie Soulie

  5. Department of Geriatric Oncology, Nancy University Hospital Center, 54511, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France

    Jean-Yves Niemier

  6. Lorraine Oncogeriatric Coordination Unit, 54511, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France

    Jean-Yves Niemier

  7. Department of Psychiatry, Chardon-Lagache Hospital, 75016, Paris, France

    Cécile Pons-Peyneau

  8. Biostatistics and Clinical Research Unit, AP-HP Northern Group, Bichat-Claude Bernard Hospital, Paris, France

    Drifa Belhadi & Camille Couffignal

  9. Paris University, INSERM, CIC-EC 1425, Bichat-Claude Bernard Hospital, Paris, France

    Drifa Belhadi & Camille Couffignal

  10. Department of Geriatric Medicine and Palliative Care, Bretonneau Hospital Center, 75018, Paris, France

    Virginie Fossey-Diaz

  11. Oncogeriatric Coordination Unit, Paris North, 75018, Paris, France

    Virginie Fossey-Diaz

Authors
  1. Bérengère Beauplet
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ophélie Soulie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jean-Yves Niemier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Cécile Pons-Peyneau
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Drifa Belhadi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Camille Couffignal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Virginie Fossey-Diaz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

VFD, BB, JYN, CC, and DB have planned and designed the study,

VFD, BB, and JYN have performed the systematic review,

BB, OS, and CC were major contributors in writing the manuscript.

All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bérengère Beauplet.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Ethics approval

Not requested.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Electronic supplementary material

ESM 1

(DOCX 33 kb).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Beauplet, B., Soulie, O., Niemier, JY. et al. Dealing with the lack of evidence to treat depression in older patients with cancer: French Societies of Geriatric Oncology (SOFOG) and PsychoOncology (SFFPO) position paper based on a systematic review. Support Care Cancer 29, 563–571 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-020-05682-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-020-05682-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation