Outpatient psychiatric care for adolescents who have recovered from cancer and have depressive disorders in remission

Background. The prevalence of clinically significant depression among adolescents cured of cancer reaches 15–25 %, which is 2–3 times higher than the rates in the general population of minors. This fact dictates the need to study depressive pathology in these patients.Aim. To clarify the features of therapy for depressive disorders in patients in remission from cancer.Materials and methods. Adolescents (50 patients aged 15 to 19 years, 28 girls and 22 boys) with oncohematological pathology (leukemia, lymphoma) were studied using a clinical and psychopathological method. By the time of examination, all patients belonged to the category of those cured of malignant disease, being in a state of remission lasting from 2 to 10 years.Results and conclusion. The appeal to a psychiatrist was associated with complaints of depressed mood. Depending on the severity of the depressive state and the leading psychopathological syndrome, psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacological methods of treatment were used. It was concluded that for successful management of depressive manifestations it is necessary not only to use medical and non-medical methods, but also coordinated interprofessional interaction of specialists of different profiles.