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Treatment for cancer and depression in a female with intellectual disability
Author(s) -
Kaushal Pamela,
Naomi Elizabeth,
Maddock Sarah
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
progress in neurology and psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.19
H-Index - 12
eISSN - 1931-227X
pISSN - 1367-7543
DOI - 10.1002/pnp.451
Subject(s) - depression (economics) , intellectual disability , breast cancer , psychiatry , mood , tamoxifen , population , psychology , medicine , cancer , mental health , clinical psychology , environmental health , economics , macroeconomics
Identifying depression in those with an intellectual disability can be difficult as symptoms may differ from those usually observed in the general population. The anti‐oestrogen medication tamoxifen is widely used for the treatment of breast cancer and clinically relevant depression may be a common side‐effect. Here, the authors discuss a case that highlights the importance for mental health professionals managing individuals with an intellectual disability and cancer to consider all possible causes of a change in mood or behaviour, so that the diagnosis and treatment of depression in this vulnerable group is not neglected.