Treatment of Anxiety and Depression in Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer
Abstract
Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer are a unique population of patients who experience a period of intense and dramatic life changes when they are diagnosed. Overall, AYAs with cancer are resilient; however, their psychosocial needs are often underestimated or unmet. Currently, there are inconsistencies in how AYAs are screened and treated for anxiety and depression. Barriers to treatment include clinicians’ lack of confidence in distinguishing between side effects of treatment and depression/anxiety. Additional barriers include the black box warning for prescribing antidepressants and difficulty partnering with mental health professionals. This article seeks to provide recommendations for pediatric oncology clinicians on how to identify and address anxiety and depression in AYAs and how to partner with mental health professionals in their treatment, and it suggests directions for future research.
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Anxiety is common among young people with cancer, with effective treatments either not available in the settings in which adolescents and young adults with cancer receive treatment or not offered by referring clinicians.
“Anxiety is also common among young people with cancer, with effective treatments either not available in the settings in which adolescents and young adults with cancer receive treatment or not offered by referring clinicians. [31].”
Depression is common among young people with cancer.
“Depression is common among young people with cancer [31]”
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- Authors
- Lauer, A. L.
- Affiliations
- University of Pennsylvania (US)
- Corresponding author
- Lauer, Amy L.
- Venue
- Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2015-01-02
- Volume
- 32
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 278-283
- ISSN
- 0748-1802 (ISSN-L)
- 1043-4542
- 1532-8457
- OpenAlex
- W2095185125
- Cited by
- 45
- References
- 24
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 4
- FWCI
- 3.65
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Childhood Cancer Survivors' Quality of Life
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Family Support in Illness
- Keywords
- anxiety, depression, adolescent and young adult cancer, psychosocial needs, screening, barriers to treatment, treatment side effects, clinician confidence
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Communication Barriers, Depressive Disorder, Female, Humans, Male, Neoplasms, Nursing Process, Oncology Nursing, Pediatric Nursing, Adolescent Health Services, Young Adult
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