A Canadian guideline on screening, assessment, and care of anxiety and depressive symptoms in adults with cancer has been adapted for the United States by the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
It is recommended that all patients with cancer be evaluated for symptoms of depression and anxiety at periodic times across the trajectory of care. Assessment should be performed using validated, published measures and procedures. Depending on levels of symptoms and supplementary information, differing treatment pathways are recommended. Failure to identify and treat anxiety and depression increases the risk for poor quality of life and potential disease-related morbidity and mortality, according to ASCO.
The full guideline can be found on the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality website .
