RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Clinical Study on the Efficacy of Fluvoxamine for Psychological Distress in Gynecologic Cancer Patients JF International Journal of Gynecologic Cancer JO Int J Gynecol Cancer FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd SP 1143 OP 1149 DO 10.1097/IGC.0b013e3181ffbeb9 VO 21 IS 6 A1 Nao Suzuki A1 Masato Ninomiya A1 Tomoko Maruta A1 Shinji Hosonuma A1 Norihito Yoshioka A1 Tatsuru Ohara A1 Yoshiko Nishigaya A1 Yoichi Kobayashi A1 Kazushige Kiguchi A1 Bunpei Ishizuka YR 2011 UL http://ijgc.bmj.com/content/21/6/1143.abstract AB Background: Diagnosis of cancer causes psychological distress. The present study investigated the safety and efficacy of fluvoxamine therapy in gynecologic cancer patients with either adjustment disorder or major depression after cancer was diagnosed.Methods: Screening with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was conducted at least 2 weeks after notification of the diagnosis of cancer in 214 gynecologic cancer patients hospitalized between January 2007 and December 2008. The HADS cutoff score was set at 11 points or greater. Informed consent to the study was obtained from 10 patients, and fluvoxamine was administered for 8 weeks. As primary end points, the safety and efficacy of fluvoxamine were evaluated using the HADS and the SF-36. As a secondary end point, the Clinical Global Impression was determined.Results: The total HADS score, the anxiety score, and the depression score were significantly reduced after 6, 4, and 6 weeks of treatment, respectively. The SF-36 revealed significant improvement in vitality, mental health, and role (emotional) after 8 weeks of treatment. In the 5 patients with adjustment disorder, only the HADS anxiety score was significantly reduced after 4 weeks. In the 5 patients with major depression, the total HADS score, the anxiety score, and the depression score were significantly reduced after 6, 8, and 6 weeks, respectively. According to the SF-36, the adjustment-disorder groups showed significant improvement in mental health after 8 weeks of treatment, whereas the major-depression group showed significant improvement in vitality and role (emotional) after 8 weeks. No adverse events occurred in any subject. Assessment of the Clinical Global Impression suggested that fluvoxamine improved psychological distress in all 10 subjects.Conclusions: The present findings suggest that fluvoxamine is useful for alleviating psychological distress, including adjustment disorder and major depression, in gynecologic cancer patients. Management of psychological distress after diagnosis of cancer is important.