Major depression and demoralization in cancer patients: diagnostic and treatment considerations.

Major depression and demoralization are very common in patients with cancer. A discussion of the diagnostic specificity of major depression and demoralization (also known as adjustment disorder) is presented here, followed by a review of some effects of comorbid depression and cancer. Finally, there are a brief review of studies of antidepressant pharmacotherapy in cancer patients, a treatment algorithm for antidepressant therapy, and suggestions for treatment of demoralization.