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. 2013 May 31;2013(5):CD006932.
doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006932.pub3.

Pharmacological treatment of depression in patients with a primary brain tumour

Alasdair Rooney  1 , Robin Grant
Affiliations

Pharmacological treatment of depression in patients with a primary brain tumour

Alasdair Rooney et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. .

Update in

Abstract

Background: This is an updated version of the original Cochrane review published in Issue 3, 2010.Patients with a primary brain tumour often experience depression, for which drug treatment may be prescribed. However, these patients are also at high risk of epileptic seizures, cognitive impairment and fatigue, all of which are potential side effects of antidepressants. The benefit, or harm, of pharmacological treatment of depression in brain tumour patients is unclear.

Objectives: To assess the benefits and harms of pharmacological treatment of depression in patients with a primary brain tumour.

Search methods: We updated the search to include the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library 2012, Issue 10), MEDLINE to October 2012, EMBASE to October 2012 and PsycINFO to October 2012. We searched the British Nursing Index, LILACS, PSYNDEX, the NHS National Research Register, the NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination's Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effectiveness (DARE) and Web of Knowledge (covering Science Scisearch, Social Sciences Citation Index and Biological Abstracts) for the original review (to July 2009). In the original review we also handsearched Neuro-oncology, the Journal of Neuro-oncology, the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry and the Journal of Clinical Oncology (July 1999 to June 2009) and wrote to all the pharmaceutical companies manufacturing antidepressants for use in the UK.

Selection criteria: We searched for all randomised controlled trials (RCTs), controlled clinical trials, cohort studies and case-control studies of any pharmacological treatment of depression in patients with a histologically diagnosed primary brain tumour.

Data collection and analysis: No studies met the inclusion criteria.

Main results: We found no eligible studies evaluating the benefits of any pharmacological treatment of depression in brain tumour patients.

Authors' conclusions: No high-quality studies have examined the value of pharmacological treatment of depression in patients with a primary brain tumour. RCTs and detailed prospective studies are required to inform the effective pharmacological treatment of this common and important complication of brain tumours. Since the last version of this review none of the new relevant studies have provided additional information to change these conclusions.

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Conflict of interest statement

None

Update of

References

References to studies excluded from this review

    1. Caudill JS, Brown PD, Cerhan JH, Rummans TA. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, glioblastoma multiforme, and impact on toxicities and overall survival. The Mayo Clinic experience. American Journal of Clinical Oncology 2011;34:385‐7. - PubMed
    1. Koval'chuk VV. Pharmacologic correction of psycho‐emotive disorders in the rehabilitation of patients after removal of brain tumors [Original title unavailable (Russian)]. Voprosy Onkologii 2007;53(6):704‐10. - PubMed
    1. Litofsky NS, Farace E, Anderson F Jr. Depression in patients with high‐grade glioma: results of the Glioma Outcomes Project. Neurosurgery 2004;54(2):358‐66. - PubMed
    1. Meyers CA, Weitzner MA, Valentine AD, Levin VA. Methylphenidate therapy improves cognition, mood, and function of brain tumor patients. Journal of Clinical Oncology 1998;16(7):2522‐7. - PubMed
    1. Morrow GR, Hickok JT, Roscoe JA, Raubertas RF, Andrews PLR, Flynn PJ. Differential effects of paroxetine on fatigue and depression: a randomized, double‐blind trial from the University of Rochester Cancer Centre Community Clinical Oncology Programme. Journal of Clinical Oncology 2003;21(24):4635‐41. - PubMed

Additional references

    1. American Psychiatric Association. Practice guideline for the treatment of patients with major depressive disorder (revision). American Journal of Psychiatry 2000;157 Suppl 4:1‐45. - PubMed
    1. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th edition, text rev.). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th edition, text revision). Washington DC: American Psychiatric Association, 2000.
    1. Armstrong CL, Goldstein B, Cohen B, et al. Clinical predictors of depression in patients with low‐grade brain tumors: consideration of a neurologic versus a psychogenic model. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings 2002;9(2):97‐107.
    1. Barnholtz‐Sloan JS, Sloan AE, Schwartz AG. Relative survival rates and patterns of diagnosis analyzed by time period for individuals with primary malignant brain tumour, 1973‐1997. Journal of Neurosurgery 2003;99(3):458‐66. - PubMed
    1. Cassano P, Fava M. Tolerability issues during long‐term treatment with antidepressants. Annals of Clinical Psychiatry 2004;16(1):15‐25. - PubMed

References to other published versions of this review

    1. Rooney A, Grant R. Pharmacological treatment of depression in patients with a primary brain tumour. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2010, Issue 3. [DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD006932.pub2] - DOI - PubMed

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