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Depression and Long-Term Prescription Opioid Use and Opioid Use Disorder: Implications for Pain Management in Cancer.

Current treatment options in oncology
March 1, 2022
Nicole Bates et al. (5 authors)
Journal ArticleReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to evaluate the role of mindfulness and psychotherapy in managing depression alongside cancer pain in patients on long-term opioid therapy.

Results Summary

The study recommends mindfulness and psychotherapy for patients with significant depression and cancer pain, suggesting it as a beneficial intervention alongside medication for moderate to severe symptoms.

Population

Cancer patients on long-term opioid therapy with significant depression and chronic pain.

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (6)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
escitalopram/citalopram or sertraline among selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
decrease
depression
patients with cancer pain and significant depression
-
recommend
#1
serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) duloxetine, venlafaxine, or desvenlafaxine
decrease
depression
patients with cancer pain and significant depression who have a significant component of neuropathic pain or fibromyalgia
-
recommend
#2
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) (consider nortriptyline or desipramine)
decrease
depression
patients with cancer pain and significant depression who do not respond to or tolerate SSRI/SNRIs
-
should be considered
#3
methylphenidate or novel agents, such as ketamine or psilocybin
no change
cancer-related depression and pain
patients with cancer pain and significant depression
-
Existing evidence is inadequate to definitively recommend
#4
Buprenorphine and methadone
decrease
opioid use disorder
patients with cancer pain
-
are indicated for the treatment
#5
Buprenorphine and methadone
increase
analgesia for cancer pain
patients with cancer pain
-
do provide
#6
Abstract

Preventing depression in cancer patients on long-term opioid therapy should begin with depression screening before opioid initiation and repeated screening during treatment. In weighing the high morbidity of depression and opioid use disorder in patients with chronic cancer pain against a dearth of evidence-based therapies studied in this population, patients and clinicians are left to choose among imperfect but necessary treatment options. When possible, we advise engaging psychiatric and pain/palliative specialists through collaborative care models and recommending mindfulness and psychotherapy to all patients with significant depression alongside cancer pain. Medications for depression should be reserved for moderate to severe symptoms. We recommend escitalopram/citalopram or sertraline among selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), or the serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) duloxetine, venlafaxine, or desvenlafaxine if patients have a significant component of neuropathic pain or fibromyalgia. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) (consider nortriptyline or desipramine, which have better anticholinergic profiles) should be considered for patients who do not respond to or tolerate SSRI/SNRIs. Existing evidence is inadequate to definitively recommend methylphenidate or novel agents, such as ketamine or psilocybin, as adjunctive treatments for cancer-related depression and pain. Physicians who treat patients with cancer pain should utilize universal precautions to limit the risk of non-medical opioid use (non-medical opioid use). Patients should be screened for non-medical opioid use behaviors at initial consultation and at regular intervals during treatment using a non-judgmental approach that reduces stigma. Co-management with an addiction specialist may be indicated for patients at high risk of non-medical opioid use and opioid use disorder. Buprenorphine and methadone are indicated for the treatment of opioid use disorder, and while they have not been systematically studied for treatment of opioid use disorder in patients with cancer pain, they do provide analgesia for cancer pain. While an interdisciplinary team approach to manage psychological stress may be beneficial, this may not be possible for patients treated outside of comprehensive cancer centers.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Analgesics, OpioidCancer PainDepressionHumansNeoplasmsOpioid-Related DisordersPainPain ManagementPrescriptionsSelective Serotonin Reuptake InhibitorsSerotonin and Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy75/10
Quality60/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations15
Citations/Year5.0
Relative Citation Ratio2.42
NIH Percentile80%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.75
Weight Score2.30
Normalized Score0.62
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Depression and Long-Term Prescription Opioid Use and Opioid ... | Panacea Index