MedWire News: Cancer patients who are suffering from depression benefit from a specifically tailored programme aimed at reducing depression symptoms and improving mental well-being, say researchers.

Depression is a significant problem in people with cancer and other medical problems, explain Professor Michael Sharpe, from the University of Edinburgh in the UK, and colleagues.

But they add: "Despite its importance, management of depression in patients with medical disorders has been shown to be inadequate - with failure to diagnose depression, to provide evidence-based treatment, or to actively follow-up treatment to ensure that a response has been achieved. "

"We need a system of care that addresses all these failings, is acceptable to medical patients, and is feasible and cost effective to deliver."

The team therefore developed the 'Depression Care for People with Cancer' programme that entails patient sessions on understanding depression and the effects of antidepressants, problem-solving therapy to combat feelings of helplessness, monthly monitoring of progress by telephone, and the provision of optional 'booster' sessions.

As part of the programme, the patients' cancer specialists and family doctors are also encouraged to collaborate in the treatment of depression, the researchers explain in The Lancet.

To assess the effectiveness of the programme, Professor Sharpe and team studied 200 cancer patients with major depression. Of these, 99 were assigned to receive standard depression care from their doctor or hospital specialist, while 101 were assigned to receive the Depression Care for People with Cancer programme.

After 3 months, the researchers found that patients assigned to receive the Depression Care for People with Cancer programme had significantly lower levels of depression, as indicated by scores on a symptom 'checklist', than those given standard care. These benefits were still evident 6 and 12 months later.

The Depression Care for People with Cancer programme was also associated with improvements in the patients' anxiety and fatigue levels, but did not appear to improve their pain levels or physical functioning.

"This is the first time that this type of depression treatment has been evaluated in cancer patients and the results are very encouraging," said professor Sharpe.

He concluded: "This new treatment could substantially improve the way we manage depression in people with cancer and also in people with other serious medical conditions."