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Psychiatric comorbidities in patients with brain tumors after radiotherapy – An intermediate report

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 March 2020

M. Bran*
Affiliation:
Coltea Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania
M. Ladea
Affiliation:
University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila”, Psychiatry, Bucharest, Romania
D. Stanculescu
Affiliation:
Clinical Hospital of Psychiatry “Prof. Dr. Al Obregia”, Psychiatry, Bucharest, Romania
T. Purnichi
Affiliation:
Clinical Hospital of Psychiatry “Prof. Dr. Al Obregia”, Psychiatry, Bucharest, Romania
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

Primary or secondary CNS tumors are among the most difficult to manage forms of cancer. Treatment of these tumors remains a challenge in oncology and the success rates for treatment of brain tumors are much lower than in extracerebral localizations. Because most chemotherapeutic agents do not cross the blood-brain barrier effectively and surgery is sometimes only palliative, radiotherapy remains the main method of treatment of these lesions. Both localized and generalized brain radiotherapy have numerous psychiatric complications.

Objectives

The objective of the study was to assess the psychiatric comorbidities in patients with brain tumors receiving radiotherapy.

Aims

This is an intermediate report of a larger study that assesses comorbidities in patients with brain tumors after radiotherapy.

Methods

Twenty-five patients with different localization brain tumors were included in this observational study before receiving radiotherapy. All patients were assessed using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) for anxiety and depressive symptoms, Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) for cognitive impairment and Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire–Short Form (Q-LES-Q-SF) at inclusion and after 3 months from finishing the radiotherapy sessions.

Results

Twenty-two patients completed the study. Nine patients received antidepressant treatment (sertraline, tianeptine) during the study for depressive symptoms or anxiety. Patients receiving antidepressants showed better scores on HADS, MOCA and Q-LES-Q-SF scales.

Conclusions

Antidepressant use in patients receiving radiotherapy for brain tumors could be neuroprotective and could improve quality of life.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Type
EW369
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 2016
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