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One-on-one care beats cancer depression A new one-on-one programme could "substantially improve" depression in people with cancer, a study published in the Lancet journal has found. Researchers at the University of Edinburgh also found that the care package - named Depression Care for People with Cancer (DCPC) - is cost-effective in improving cancer patients' quality of life when compared with current cancer treatments. The package offers patients one-to-one sessions with specially trained cancer nurses to help them manage their depression. To compare the programme with standard treatment the researchers recruited 200 cancer patients in Scotland who also had major depression. One hundred and one were given the usual NHS care for depression while the other 99 received this care plus DCPC. The sessions aimed to help patients to understand depression and its treatments, including antidepressants, and provided problem-solving treatment to help patients overcome feelings of helplessness. The nurse also communicated with each patient's oncologist and primary care doctor about the management of their depression. After completing initial treatment the nurse monitored the patient's progress by telephone and provided optional booster sessions if needed. After three months of receiving the new treatment almost 20 per cent fewer patients were depressed compared with patients who received standard NHS treatment. This difference was still evident after one year. "Ten per cent of cancer patients experience clinical depression and, unfortunately, it is not always adequately treated," said Professor Michael Sharpe. "This new treatment could substantially improve the way we manage depression in people with cancer and also in people with other serious medical conditions. "This is the first time that this type of depression treatment has been evaluated in cancer patients and the results are very encouraging."  04 July 2008, 00:02 |
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