Assessing Depression in a Geriatric Cancer Population

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Breast Cancer; Prostate Cancer

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00580476

06-100

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this study is to learn more about how we measure depression in elderly cancer patients (patients aged 70 and older). Depression is one of the most common causes of emotional distress in the elderly and continues to be under-recognized. This is a problem because depression can have a negative impact on quality of life. The symptoms of depression are linked to poor health outcomes and higher costs of health care. In fact, depression is one of the top five concerns facing the elderly today.

Full description

We have a few questionnaires that have been used to measure depression, but we do not know how these measures work with people with cancer. This study will help us answer this question. To complete this study, we need people who may or may not be feeling down or depressed.

If you choose to take part, you will be asked to do the following:

1. Fill out questionnaires that ask about:

   • Your age, eduction, race, and income
   • Your mood

   In all, these questionnaires will take about 10 minutes to complete.

2. Answer questions about your mood. This will also take about 10 minutes to complete.

Enrollment: 201 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 70+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Age 70 and older
2. Diagnosis of early or late stage prostate cancer, or diagnosis of early or late stage breast cancer
3. Actively engaged in one of the following cancer treatments: chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy
4. Able to provide informed consent
5. Ability to converse, write and read English

Exclusion criteria

1.Major psychopathology or cognitive impairment likely in the judgment of the research staff to interfere with the participation or completion of the protocol.

Trial design

201 participants in 2 patient groups

1

Description:

150 patients will be women with breast cancer (75 early stage and 75 late stage)

2

Description:

150 will be men with prostate cancer (75 early stage and 75 late stage)