Abstract
While significant advances have been made regarding the antineoplastic treatment for the pediatric oncology population, few improvements have been made to evaluate the mental and emotional aspects of these individuals' overall well-being. While chronic diseases have often been thought to correlate with increased emotional distress, cancer has not typically been viewed as a chronic disease until recently. Despite significant resiliency tendencies, adolescents with cancer are noted to have a significantly higher rate of depressive symptoms, likely as a result of their inability to cope effectively, in addition to the unique biopsychosocial development that they are experiencing. To improve the evaluation and treatment of depression in the adolescent oncology population, routine screening for depression needs to occur with the use of a standardized depression screening tool, such as the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). The purpose of this project was to implement a routine screening process for depression for in-patient pediatric oncology patients and to develop a referral process for behavioral health services. A total of 25% of patients screened had a high-risk PHQ-9 score. Appropriate routine assessments for and management of depression is vital among adolescent oncology patients, as individuals with untreated mental disease can experience lifelong devastations.