Pirl, W.F. (2004). Evidence report on the occurrence, assessment, and treatment of depression in cancer patients. Journal of the National Cancer Institute Monographs, 32, 32–39.

To provide an evidence-based review of empiric literature, about depression in patients with cancer, that focuses on occurrence, assessment, and treatment

The search examined literature published January 1966–September 2001 and cited in PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, or BIOSIS Citation Index.

Common interventions for depression are behavioral and cognitive counseling. Because hundreds of articles exist about these topics, the review was limited to several meta-analyses of psychosocial interventions. Some measured emotional adjustment or distress rather than depression. All studies cited were conducted prior to 1998. Eleven randomized, controlled trials of medication treatment for depression in patients with cancer were identified. Tools for measuring depression included the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Clinical Global Impression, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale. Descriptive reports—but no randomized, controlled trials—were found regarding complementary treatments.

Eleven randomized, controlled trials of medication treatment for depression in patients with cancer included data from 755 patients, averaging 58 patients per study.

Some data exist regarding the efficacy of psychosocial and pharmacologic treatments for depression in people with cancer. Studies conforming to usual practices of antidepressant trials demonstrated benefit. Studies measuring at less than five weeks tended to show less benefit. Randomized, controlled trials of alternative or complementary interventions were not found.