View
0
Download
0
Category
Preview:
Citation preview
Assessing & Treating Depression
and Anxiety in Your Breast Cancer
Patients
Ruth H. Steinman, MD Clinical Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Perelman School of Medicine
University of Pennsylvania
Conflict of Interest Statement
There are no conflicts of interest to report.
Anxiety and Depression in Breast
Cancer Patients…
Are commonly experienced
There is an increased risk for depression
after breast cancer diagnosis (1)
Prevalence of clinical depression is 10-
30% within first 5 years after diagnosis (4)
Rate of depression is highest in first
weeks after diagnosis (5)
Why is this important?
Depression is common, often
preventable, treatable, and under-
recognized
Depression leads to profound suffering
for patients and their families
Depression can be deadly
Why is there increased mortality
with untreated depression?
Mortality is increased in breast cancer patients
who are depressed compared to those who are
not (9)
Depressed patients are less inclined to pursue
definitive treatment and adhere to cancer
treatment protocols
One review showed non-adherence is 3 times
greater among depressed cancer patients (12)
Depressed patients are at increased risk of
suicide
What is a Depressive Disorder?
Dysthymic Disorder
Major Depression
Adjustment Disorder with Depressed
Mood
Why is clinical depression missed?
There is a misconception that depression
exists in all breast cancer patients
Ethnic minority and low-income cancer
patients are at particular risk for missed
diagnosis and undertreatment of
depressive conditions (2)
Overlap of symptoms: appetite loss,
energy loss, cognitive slowing
Risk factors for clinical depression(1)
Prior history of MDD
Living alone/poor social support
Medical co-morbidity
Advanced disease
Limited education/low income
Pain/severity of physical symptoms
Functional disability
Other factors…
Cancer itself and chemotherapy cause
tissue destruction leading to increase in
pro-inflammatory immune cytokines (7)
Cancer disrupts neuroendocrine
processes (cortisol) and endocrine
effects of treatment can be culprits
Chemotherapy causes direct CNS
neurotoxicity
Clinical features of clinical depression (8)
Depressed mood
Decreased
pleasure/interest
Psychomotor
agitation/slowing
Excessive guilt/being
a burden
Negativity
Worthlessness
Emptiness
Irritability/anxiety
Functional
impairment
Cognitive slowing
Hopelessness
Helplessness
Suicidal ideation
Overlap symptoms
Overlap symptoms:
Fatigue/low energy
Low libido
Cognitive slowing/focus/memory
Insomnia
Low appetite/weight loss
Sadness and Suicidal Ideation are not
necessarily clinical depression
Sadness and depressed mood are
common in the breast cancer setting esp
around new dx, worsening prognosis,
cancer progression
Passive SI is common in cancer patients
and often represents fear about dying
and other concerns about the future
Both should alert clinicians to need for
monitoring and preventive interventions
Screening (10)
All breast cancer patients should be
screened for depressive symptoms at
the time of initial diagnosis and
periodically thereafter
Valid standardized screening tools
PHQ-2 (Table #1) 2 item questionnaire
PHQ-9 (Table #2) if answered greater or
equal to 3 in PHQ-2
Five areas to focus on
Depressed mood
Anhedonia (lack of pleasure)
Worthlessness or excessive guilt
Impaired decision making/cognition
Hopelessness/suicidal thinking
Active SI requires immediate attention
Severe symptoms including active suicidal
ideation with specific plan, intent and/or
behavior is an emergency and requires
immediate placement in an emergency
room for assessment
Pharmacologic Management of
Depression in Breast Cancer
Antidepressants are safe and effective
Particularly helpful at addressing
depressed mood, emotional lability,
irritability, and social withdrawal
Tamoxifen (15)
Antidepressants can interfere with the
conversion of the prodrug Tamoxifen to
its active metabolite
Venlafaxine does not affect this
conversion
Paroxetine (Paxil) and fluoxetine
(Prozac) are active inhibitors of this
process and should be avoided
SSRI
First line
Few sedative, anti-cholinergic or
autonomic SEs
Few drug interactions (except
Tamoxifen)
Initial serotonin-mediated nausea can be
helped with Zofran
Can relieve hot flashes
Mirtazapine
Sedating so can help with insomnia
Appetite and weight enhancing
Anti-nausea effect
Anti-anxiety effect felt sooner than with
SSRI/SNRI
SNRI
Venlafaxine (Effexor)
Duloxetine (Cymbalta)
Tricyclic Antidepressants
All can help with neuropathic pain
All help with hot flashes
Stimulants
Potentiate analgesic effects of opioids
Counter-act sedating effects of opioids,
cancer treatments and other psychiatric
treatments
Paradoxically can increase appetite as
patient gains energy
Can act as antidepressant alone or in
combination with other antidepressants
Antidepressant Pearls
Avoid bupropion (Wellbutrin) in those
with high risk for seizures
Some antidepressants can increase the
blood levels of chemotherapy and other
medications so interactions should be
checked
Antidepressants can take 4-8 weeks to
begin to take effect
Non-pharmacologic management of
depression
Supportive/Meaning Centered Therapy
CBT (17)
Pastoral Care
Light Therapy
Yoga/meditation/relaxation/breathing
Factors which negatively affect coping
Extent of change in appearance
Spirituality
Developmental stage/level of maturity
Social support
Prior emotional trauma
Personality/resilience: Optimism-strong
predictor of emotional adjustment
Anxiety in breast cancer
Can be a normal response to
threat/uncertainty/loss of control
Can be increased at critical junctures in
cancer continuum (dx/tx/progression/end
of tx)
Can interfere with ability to receive
adequate cancer treatment
Can co-exists with clinical depression
What does anxiety look like?
Restlessness
Irritability
Shortness of breath
Ruminative worry
Insomnia/
Excessive fear
What is an Anxiety Disorder?
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Adjustment Disorder with Anxiety
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Panic Disorder
Medical conditions can mimic anxiety
Meds:
phenothiazines/meto
clopramide/
Interferon/steroids
Pulmonary
emboli/hypoxia
Pain
Thyroid/adrenal
abnormality
Nutritional
deficiencies
(folate/B12)
CNS disorders
Sepsis
Withdrawal States
Anxiety Treatment: Medications
Antidepressants especially if co-morbid
depression or if Anxiety Disorder
Benzodiazepines for acute anxiety and
to augment anti-emetics
Antipsychotics: if resp depression a
concern; if benzo not effective; if
psychosis
Opiates/gabapentin for pain
Anxiety Treatment: Non-medication
Psycho-education
Acupuncture
Relaxation/yoga/meditation
Biofeedback
CBT
Supportive/expressive/family/couples/
group psychotherapy
Assess Coping Strategies (13)
Confrontative Coping
Distancing
Self-Control
Seeking Social
Support
Accepting
Responsibility
Escape-Avoidance
Planful Problem
Solving
Positive Re-
appraisal
Help with strategies for managing
uncertainty
Education
Find safe place to share fears and distress
Pace life to avoid being overwhelmed
Treat pain and other persistent treatment
related side effects to avoid demoralization
Set short term goals
Work on developing non-cancer identity
Friendship
Spirituality
More Strategies…
Reinforce past adaptive strategies for
coping under stress and uncertainty
Engage support from family, community,
health care providers: other’s optimism
can engender hope
Writing
Taking care of yourself can enhance
your sense of control
Diet/Nutrition
Exercise
Meditation/Mind-body interventions
Energy Therapies: Qi Gong; Reiki
Relaxation techniques
Breathing
Muscle relaxation
Guided imagery
What is Hope?
Belief that a positive outcome lies ahead.
We can learn to see that a positive
outcome can exist even if what we
originally hoped for is not likely to
happen.
Where Can I Find Professional
Help?
American Psychosocial Oncology
Society (APOS) Helpline:
1-866-APOS-4-HELP
www.apos-society.org/survivors/helpline
Living Beyond Breast Cancer
Resources
More information about all resources can be
found at LBBC.org
Breast Cancer Helpline 888-753-LBBC (5222)
Recorded Breast Cancer 360
Living Well After a Breast Cancer Diagnosis: Practical Tips
for Young Women
Guide to Understanding: Managing Stress and
Anxiety
Young Women’s Initiative Closed
Facebook Group
Table #1: PHQ-2
Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2)
Instructions: Please respond to each question.
Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by any of the
following problems?
1. Little interest or pleasure in doing things
0=Not at all; 1=Several days; 2=More than half the days; 3=Nearly every day
2. Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless
0=Not at all; 1=Several days; 2=More than half the days; 3=Nearly every day
Developed by Drs. R.L. Spitzer, J.B. Williams, K. Kroenke and colleagues with an educational
grant from Pfizer, Inc. No permission required to reproduce, translate, display or distribute.
Table #2: PHQ-9
PATIENT HEALTH QUESTIONNAIRE (PHQ-9) Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by any of the following problems?
Scoring: Not at all (0) Several days (1) More than half the days (2) Nearly every day(3)
1. Little interest or pleasure in doing things 0 1 2 3
2. Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless 0 1 2 3
3. Trouble falling or staying asleep or sleeping too much 0 1 2 3
4. Feeling tired or having little energy 0 1 2 3
5. Poor appetite or overeating 0 1 2 3
6. Feeling bad about yourself, that you are a failure or have let yourself or your family down 0 1 2 3
7. Trouble concentrating on things, such as reading the newspaper or watching television 0 1 2 3
8. Moving or speaking so slowly that other people could have noticed. Or the opposite, being so
fidgety or restless that you have been moving around a lot more than usual 0 1 2 3
9.Thoughts that you would be better off dead, or of hurting yourself 0 1 2 3
SCORE:
Developed by Drs, Robert L Spitzer, Janet BW Williams, Kurt Kroenke, and colleagues, with an educational grant
from Pfizer, Inc. No permission required to reproduce, translate, display or distribute.
Table #2: PHQ 9 scoring
PHQ-9 score
10 or over: Likely MDD
5-9: mild MDD
10-14: moderate MDD
15-19: moderately severe MDD
20 or over: severe MDD
Developed by Drs, Robert L Spitzer, Janet BW Williams, Kurt Kroenke, and colleagues, with an
educational grant from Pfizer, Inc. No permission required to reproduce, translate, display or
distribute.
Bibliography
1. Suppli NP, Johansen C, Christensen J, et al. Increased risk for depression after breast cancer: a nationwide population-based cohort study of associated factors in Demark, 1998-2011. J Clin Oncol 2014; 32:3831.
2. Ell K, Sanchez K, Vourlekis B, et al. Depression, correlates of depression, and receipt of depression care among low-income women with breast or gynecologic cancer. J Clin Oncol 2005; 23:3052.
3. Li M, Fitzgerald P, Rodin G. Evidence-based treatment of depression in patients with cancer. J Clin Oncol 2012;30:1187.
4. Mitchell AJ, Chan M, Bhatti H, et al. Prevalence of depression, anxiety, and adjustment disorder in oncological, haematological, and palliative-care settings: a meta-analysis of 94 interview-based studies. Lancet Oncol 2011; 12:160.
5. Lu D, Andersso TM, Fall K, et al. Clinical Diagnosis of Mental Disorders Immediately Before and After Cancer Diagnosis: A Nationwide Matched Cohort Study in Sweden. JAMA Oncol 2016;2:1188.
6. Burgess C, Conrnelius V, Love S, et al. Depression and anxiety in women with early breast cancer: five-year observational cohort study. BMJ 2005; 330:702.
Bibliography Cont.
7. Torres MA, Pace TW, Liu T, et al. Predictors of depression in breast
cancer patients treated with radiation: role of prior chemotherapy and
nuclear factor kappa B. Cancer 2013; 119: 1951.
8. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of
Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), American Psychiatric
Association, Arlington 2013.
9. Pinquart M, Duberstein PR. Depression and cancer mortality: a meta-
analysis. Psychol Med 2010; 40:1797.
10. Thekkumpurath P, Walker J, Butcher I, et al. Screening for major
depression in cancer outpatients: the diagnostic accuracy of the 9-item
patient health questionnaire. Cancer 2011; 117-218.
11. Marmelstein H, Lesko L, Holland JC. Depression in the cancer patient. J
Psychooncology 1992; 1:199.
Bibliography cont.
12. Kissane DW. Unrecognised and untreated depression in cancer care. Lancet Psychiatry 2014; 1:320.
13. Folkman S, Lazarus, RS. Coping as a Mediator of Emotion. J of Personality and Social Psych; 1988;13.
14. Okamura M, Yamawaki, S, et al. Psychiatric Disorders following First Breast Cancer Recurrence: Prevalence, Associated Factors and Relationship to Quality of Life. Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2005;35(6):302-309.
15. Desmarais JE, Looper KJL Interactions between tamoxifen and antidepressants via cytochrome P450 2D6. J Clin Psychiatry. 2009; 70:1688-1697.
16. Wonghongkul T, Moore, SM, et al. The Influence of Uncertainty in Illness, Stress Appraisal, and Hope on Coping in Survivors of Breast Cancer. Cancer Nursing. 2000;23(6):422-429.
17. Nelson, JP. Struggling to Gain Meaning: Living with the Uncertainty of Breast Cancer. Advances in Nursing Science. 1996;18(3):59-76.
18. Stagl JM, Bouchard LC, Lechner SC, et al. Long-term psychological benefits of cognitive-behavioral stress management for women with breast cancer: 11-year follow-up of a randomized controlled trial. Cancer 2015; 121:1873.
Recommended