Longitudinal Study of Depressive Symptoms in Patients With Metastatic Gastrointestinal and Lung Cancer

Abstract

Depressive symptoms in advanced cancer patients are relatively common and may arise as a final common pathway of distress in response to psychosocial vulnerabilities, physical suffering, and proximity to death. These findings support the need for an integrated approach to address emotional and physical distress in this population and to determine whether early intervention may prevent depression at the end of life.