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BMC Psychiatry
Published in: BMC Psychiatry 1/2013

Open Access 01-12-2013 | Research article

Antidepressants in the treatment of depression/depressive symptoms in cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Authors: Zacharias G Laoutidis, Klaus Mathiak

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2013

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Abstract

Background

Over the past thirty years a number of studies have suggested that antidepressants can be effective in the treatment of depressive symptoms in patients with cancer. The aim of this paper was to review randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and to perform a meta-analysis in order to quantify their overall effect.

Methods

Pubmed and the Cochrane libraries were searched for the time period between 1980 and 2010.

Results

Nine RCTs were identified and reviewed. Six of them (with a total of 563 patients) fulfilled the criteria for meta-analysis, but exhibited an unclear risk for bias. The estimated effect size was 1.56 with 95% CI: 1.07- 2.28 (p= 0.021). There were no differences in discontinuation rates between antidepressants and placebo groups (RR= 0.86 with 95% CI 0.47- 1.56, p=0.62).

Conclusions

This meta-analysis suggests that antidepressants can be effective in treating depressive symptoms beside clinical depression. When considering the risk of side effects and interactions and the heterogeneity among the mostly small studies, a general recommendation cannot be made until well-controlled studies are conducted.
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Metadata
Title
Antidepressants in the treatment of depression/depressive symptoms in cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors
Zacharias G Laoutidis
Klaus Mathiak
Publication date
01-12-2013
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2013
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-244X-13-140

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