Table 1. Suggested Questions for the Assessment of Depressive Symptoms in Adults With Cancera
| Question | Symptom |
| aAdapted from Roth et al.[37] | |
| Depressive symptoms | |
| How well are you coping with your cancer? Well? Poorly? | Well-being |
| How are your spirits since diagnosis? During treatment? Down? Blue? | Mood |
| Do you cry sometimes? How often? Only alone? | Mood |
| Are there things you still enjoy doing, or have you lost pleasure in things you used to do before you had cancer? | Anhedonia |
| How does the future look to you? Bright? Black? | Hopelessness |
| Do you feel you can influence your care, or is your care totally under others' control? | Helplessness |
| Do you worry about being a burden to family/friends during cancer treatment? | Guilt |
| Do you feel others might be better off without you? | Worthlessness |
| Physical symptoms (evaluate in the context of cancer-related symptoms) | |
| Do you have pain that isn't controlled? | Pain |
| How much time do you spend in bed? | Fatigue |
| Do you feel weak? Fatigue easily? Rested after sleep? Any relationship between how you feel and a change in treatment or how you otherwise feel physically? | Fatigue |
| How is your sleeping? Trouble going to sleep? Awake early? Often? | Insomnia |
| How is your appetite? Food tastes good? Weight loss or gain? | Appetite |
| How is your interest in sex? Extent of sexual activity? | Libido |
| Do you think or move more slowly than usual? | Psychomotor slowing |
References
- Roth AJ, Holland JC: Psychiatric complications in cancer patients. In: Brain MC, Carbone PP, eds.: Current Therapy in Hematology-Oncology. 5th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby-Year Book, Inc., 1995, pp 609-18.
