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Depressive symptom patterns and their consequences for diagnosis of affective disorders in cancer patients

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Abstract

Goals of work

In order to obtain references for adequate diagnostic procedures of depressive syndromes in cancer patients, the present study analyzes first the prevalence of somatic, emotional, and cognitive symptoms of depression. In a second part, the ability of diagnostic procedures to discriminate between patients with and without comorbid affective disorder is investigated.

Patients and methods

From a cross-sectional survey investigating comorbid mental disorders in cancer patients with standardized clinical assessment, a subsample of 71 patients with current affective disorders and depressive symptoms according to the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV) were analyzed. In addition to patients’ symptom patterns, a discriminant analysis including all depressive symptoms was conducted.

Main results

Cognitive symptoms are less prevalent in cancer patients than somatic and emotional symptoms. Loss of interest discriminated best between patients with and without diagnosis of comorbid affective disorder. Additionally, decreased energy and fatigue proved to have discriminatory value.

Conclusions

Cognitive symptoms should receive special attention in diagnostic procedures for affective disorders in cancer patients. In spite of possible symptom overlap with the cancer disease and its treatment, fatigue proves to be a useful criteria for diagnosis of depression.

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Acknowledgements

This work was possible thanks to a research project grant (01 GD 9802/4) from the Freiburg/Bad Saeckingen Rehabilitation Research Network. The project was supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Federation of German Pension Insurance Institutes (VDR). It was also supported in part by grants from Hoffmann LaRoche and Aventis to M. Härter and W. Marschner. We would like to thank the following clinics and doctors’ offices for their cooperation and support in collecting data: Tumor Biology Center, Freiburg (Prof. Dr. Unger, Prof. Dr. Bartsch); Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Freiburg (Prof. Dr. Kieback); Portens Private Hospital St. Georg, Höchenschwand (Dr. Kornotzki); Dr. Reiber, Freiburg; Dr. Marschner, Freiburg.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Freiburg University Medical Center, Hauptstrasse 5, 79104, Freiburg, Germany

    Katrin Reuter, Simone Raugust & Martin Härter

  2. Department of Rehabilitation Psychology, Freiburg University, Freiburg, Germany

    Jürgen Bengel

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  1. Katrin Reuter
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  2. Simone Raugust
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  3. Jürgen Bengel
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  4. Martin Härter
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Correspondence to Katrin Reuter.

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Reuter, K., Raugust, S., Bengel, J. et al. Depressive symptom patterns and their consequences for diagnosis of affective disorders in cancer patients. Support Care Cancer 12, 864–870 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-004-0694-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-004-0694-2

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