Use of a single-item screening tool to detect clinically significant fatigue, pain, distress, and anorexia in ambulatory cancer practice.

Fatigue, pain, distress, and anorexia are four commonly encountered symptoms in cancer. To evaluate the usefulness of a single-item screening for these symptoms, 597 ambulatory outpatients with solid tumors were administered a self-report screening instrument within the first 12 weeks of chemotherapy. Patients rated the severity of each symptom on a 0-10 scale, at its worst over the past three days, with higher ratings associated with higher symptom levels.

Longitudinal screening and management of fatigue, pain, and emotional distress associated with cancer therapy.

Goals Of Work: Fatigue, pain, and emotional distress are common symptoms among patients with cancer. We sought to learn about patient perceptions of these symptoms and their treatment.

Materials And Methods: At a baseline assessment and two monthly follow-up assessments, we asked a diverse sample of patients with solid tumor or lymphoma (N = 99) about their fatigue, pain and distress, their treatment for these symptoms, and their satisfaction with treatment via standardized questionnaires and semistructured interviews.

Aripiprazole augmentation in treatment-resistant bipolar depression: early response and development of akathisia.

There is growing evidence that atypical antipsychotics may be effective in the treatment of acute bipolar depression. Results from randomized, placebo-controlled trials support the use of quetiapine monotherapy and a combination of olanzapine-fluoxetine in the depressed phase of bipolar disorder, while only limited data exists regarding the use of aripiprazole in this population. To assess the potential effectiveness of aripiprazole in treating acute bipolar depression, a chart review was conducted on 12 patients with treatment-resistant bipolar disorder (I, II, and not otherwise specified [NOS]) who received aripiprazole augmentation for the relief of an acute major depressive episode.