Screening for Depression and Starting Antidepressants in Oncology Care
Dr. Erik Bengtsen discusses the importance of screening for depression in oncology patients, suggesting that clinicians ask about a patient's ability to enjoy time with loved ones. He also addresses the role of oncologists in initiating low-dose antidepressants when psychiatric care is delayed.
Why it matters
This guidance helps bridge the gap in mental health support for cancer patients, providing practical strategies for oncologists to manage depression symptoms effectively.
In this episode of CancerNetwork’s® Ask Me Anything, Erik Bengtsen, MD, an assistant attending psychiatrist and assistant director of the Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Training Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, answered questions about the psychiatric care of patients with cancer that were pulled from clinician forums and recurring themes in the psycho-oncology literature.
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