January 2002

Dear Readers: Here's the Article for this Month:

Name of article:

Depression in palliative care: a pragmatic report from the Expert Working Group of the European Association for Palliative Care

Author(s): Stiefel F, Trill MD, Berney A, Nunez Olarte JM, Razavi D
Reference: Supportive Care Cancer  2001; 9: 477-88

Abstract:

The Research Steering Committee (RSC) of the European
Association of Palliative Care (EAPC) established an Expert Working Group
to address the issue of depression in palliative care. The objective of the
study was  to summarize the relevant knowledge on depression in palliative
care and to provide a framework for clinical, scientific and educational
efforts at improving its management.
 The report is divided into four sections, focusing on detection, training
and nonpharmacological and pharmacological treatment of depression in
palliative care. For each of these sections, general considerations are
addressed on the basis of the literature review and of clinical experience
and a short description of unresolved issues and recommendations is
provided. Underdetection and undertreatment of depression is a serious
problem in palliative care. Training of the nonpsychiatric staff should
therefore have the highest priority.

Why I chose this Article:

Depression in advanced and terminal cancer patients is still under-recognized
and undertreated above all because it is not regularly assessed and monitored.
This paper offers recommendations for detection of depression, staff training, nonpharmacological and psychopharmacological treatments.

http://www.eapcnet.org/researchNetwork/expertgroups.html#Publications

Regards,

Carla Ripamonti, MD
Member of the Board of Directors, IAHPC