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Depression After Diagnosis of Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Survival: A Pilot Study

Received January 4, 2007; revised April 3, 2007; accepted April 18, 2007. From Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA; Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA. Send correspondence and reprint requests to William F. Pirl, M.D., Massachusetts General Hospital, WACC 812, 15 Parkman St., Boston, MA 02114. e-mail: wpirl{at}partners.org
© 2008 The Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine

BACKGROUND: Major depressive disorder is estimated to occur in 10%–25% of people with cancer, and it has been inconsistently linked to increased mortality. OBJECTIVE: This pilot study investigates the association of depression and survival in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. METHOD: Forty-three recently-diagnosed advanced NSCLC patients completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and were followed prospectively. RESULTS: Patients with depression had poorer survival. Median survival was four times shorter than those without depression. Controlling for baseline performance status, depression predicted 6-month mortality, but was not significant for overall survival. CONCLUSION: Although depression after advanced-NSCLC diagnosis was associated with poorer survival at 6 months, this association was not present for overall survival; however, further research with larger samples should be pursued.

Key Words: Depression • Lung Cancer • Survival

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