Premium
An open‐label study of the effects of bupropion SR on fatigue, depression and quality of life of mixed‐site cancer patients and their partners
Author(s) -
Moss Erin L.,
Simpson J. Steven A.,
Pelletier Guy,
Forsyth Peter
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
psycho‐oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.41
H-Index - 137
eISSN - 1099-1611
pISSN - 1057-9249
DOI - 10.1002/pon.952
Subject(s) - bupropion , depression (economics) , medicine , rating scale , cancer related fatigue , placebo , quality of life (healthcare) , randomized controlled trial , hamilton rating scale for depression , cancer , physical therapy , psychiatry , major depressive disorder , psychology , mood , alternative medicine , nursing , smoking cessation , developmental psychology , pathology , economics , macroeconomics
This preliminary study investigated whether bupropion sustained release (SR) improved symptomatic fatigue, depression and quality of life in cancer patients and caregiver quality of life. The sample consisted of a prospective open case series of 21 cancer patients, with fatigue and with or without depression at moderate to severe levels, referred for psychiatric assessment from a tertiary care cancer centre. Both patient symptom ratings and caregiver ratings were measured before and after 4 weeks of treatment with the maximally tolerated dose of bupropion in the range of 100–300 mg per day. At trial completion, significant improvement was found for symptoms of fatigue and depression. Subjects were divided into two groups: depressed and non‐depressed (based on a cut‐off score of 17 on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale). Both groups reported improvement for fatigue and depressive symptoms. Depressed subjects and their caregivers did not experience any change in quality of life, while the non‐depressed subjects and their caregivers reported improvements. Results from this small group of patients suggest that bupropion may have potential as an effective pharmaceutical agent for treating cancer‐related fatigue. A randomized, placebo‐controlled trial with this medication is indicated. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.