Relieving Major Depression in Cancer Patients

An Oncology Times article caught my eye: "Relieving Major Depression in Cancer Patients: Specific 'Biopsychosocial' Method Found Useful."  It reviewed a study that addressed the impact of an intervention developed to treat depression, reduce stress and help patients develop coping strategies.

Some interesting findings included significant reductions in patients' fatigue and improved mental health quality of life.

For the intervention, in addition to relaxation exercises and teaching sessions (about their disease, side effects, communicating needs, problem solving), participating patients were asked to identify activities that had previously brought them pleasure and then encouraged to find ways to reincorporate these activities into their lives.

For years, in keynotes to clinicians I suggest they ask their patients three questions:

• What activity no longer brings you joy?
• What keeps you from that joy?
• What brings you joy now?

It can be an efficient tool to help clinicians...

• elicit information about new symptoms
• clarify the severity and impact of known symptoms
• provide insight into the patient’s adjustment to changes and losses
• gauge patient's resiliency

I explain why I believe these questions can strengthen clinician-patient bonds: Happiness has nothing to do with cancer cells and everything to do with the person with cancer.

Comments

[Andrea Gauthier]

Wendy, I love that last sentence. I think we need to acknowledge ourselves for the efforts we make to be Healthy Survivors. It does require intention and determination but it is so worthwhile. Compassion and kindness towards self every step of the way. In appreciation, Andrea

[Jan Baird Hasak]

These principles can be applied to anyone suffering from depression or a major life crisis, whether health-related or otherwise. When I went through my possessions gathered over a lifetime, I kept and discarded things involving former hobbies based on whether the activities would now bring me joy. That decision-making really helped me through my latest crisis. Thanks.

[Jules O'hara]

I am happy that more and more people in the medical field and in clinical trials, are recognizing the direct and absolute connection between our mental state and how well our bodies function.

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