Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0011570 (depression)
 172,036 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

For the oncologist, depression is a commonly occurring phenomenon which is encountered at all stages of the patient's diagnosis, treatment and clinical course. The diagnosis of cancer is in itself a major source of stress. Initial rejection of the diagnosis is frequently followed by a period of total annihilation in which the patient seems to withdraw, and it is not always obvious how to get him or her to accept the diagnosis and the therapeutic options simultaneously. These two stages are often linked, and the patient usually has to tolerate news of his or her diagnosis, information regarding treatments and, in certain cases, the hazards of treatment all at the same time. The therapy bears witness to the disease: cancer; this concept, which in itself is impossible to bear, will immediately be compounded by the hazards of the therapy. This is especially obvious when major surgery is mentioned. This initial stressful phase is a major source of disequilibrium, and is not always appropriately analysed by the clinician, who is more sensitive to the quality of the explanation than to its effect on the patient. The description of the treatments often represents an intense emotional shock. Chemotherapy represents generalised sickness and physical change (alopecia). Surgery represents aesthetic and functional mutilation. The period of active treatment is frequently better tolerated, and anxiety or depressive syndromes are rarely encountered during the initial phase. But as soon as he or she has comprehended the severity of the sequelae of therapy, the patient presents with a veritable fulmination which now embraces the severity of the disease and the definitive nature of its sequelae.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:[Depression and cancer: from the viewpoint of the cancer oncologist]. 789 32

Communicating disappointing or unexpected neurological news to parents is often both difficult and emotionally unwelcome. At the same time, it is important that transfer of such information is done well and, indeed, if done well, can be a very rewarding experience. Limited references are available for physicians regarding the proper communication of neurological bad news to parents. This paper attempts to provide general guidelines regarding this process. The review is based on the available medical literature, detailed discussions with many senior physicians from different medical systems and the authors personal experience. The manner in which neurological bad news is conveyed to parents can significantly influence their emotions, their beliefs and their attitudes towards the child, the medical staff, and the future. This review of the literature, combined with clinical experience, attests to the fact that most families describe emotional shock, upset, and subsequent depression after the breaking of news of a bad neurological disorder. However, the majority find the attitude of the news giver, combined with the clarity of the message and the news giver's knowledge to answer questions as the most important aspects of giving bad news.
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PMID:The communication of neurological bad news to parents. 1185 41