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How do you differentiate demoralization from depression during cancer treatment?

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Mednet Member
Mednet Member
Psychiatry · Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School
Answered on

Certainly a key question in all referrals for "depression" in psycho-oncology. The two syndromes have areas of overlap and are not mutually exclusive.

Clinical depression in cancer looks much like it would in any other context, though non-specific physical symptoms that can be caused by the cancer/t...

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Mednet Member
Mednet Member
Psychiatry · Dale B. Mortimer, M.D., P.C.
Answered on

I agree with Dr. @Dr. First Last. Demoralization is not synonymous with major depression. And I doubt that demoralization responds to treatment with antidepressants.

Several years ago, I spoke with an oncologist. She said that the psychiatric nurse practitioner (they didn't have a psychiatrist on th...

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