Download Depression - The Brain Tumour Charity

What is depression?
Depression and
brain tumours
Each of us will go through a time in our life
when we feel emotional, down or sad. This
is normal and for many of us these feelings
will usually pass. However, for some of us,
these feelings linger.
Many people living with a brain tumour
experience depression and emotional distress
at some point during their illness and may
feel apathetic or overwhelmed. Equally,
depression may affect family, friends and
carers of a person with a brain tumour as
they struggle to come to terms with what
is happening. If you are experiencing
depression, it is important to seek medical
advice from your doctor.
In this fact sheet:
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What is depression?
Signs and symptoms of depression
Possible causes of depression
Ways of coping with depression
Additional techniques that may help
Resources you may find helpful
Depression is feeling persistently low for a number of weeks or
months and losing interest in the things you would usually enjoy.
In a mild form, depression can mean you have low spirits and,
whilst things may seem harder to do or less worthwhile, your
normal life will not be dramatically affected. At its most severe,
clinical depression can be debilitating and may be life threatening
by causing feelings of suicide or by making you want to give up
on life.
Depression is a real illness that affects both men and women
across all age groups and it can have a significant effect on a
person’s quality of life. It is not a sign of weakness and feeling
better is not a case of just ‘pulling yourself together’. By
recognising depression and seeking help, it is possible to make
a big difference to the way you feel.
Signs and symptoms of depression
Different people experience depression differently. Due to the
wide range of possible symptoms, some people do not realise
that they are depressed.
Some of the emotional symptoms of depression include:
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low mood for most of the time which you cannot lift out of
not feeling your usual self
not being able to enjoy anything
loss of interest in favourite activities
poor concentration and forgetfulness
feelings of guilt, burden or blame
feeling helpless or hopeless
feeling vulnerable or oversensitive
feeling close to tears
irritability
loss of motivation
suicidal feelings
avoiding people
Most people experiencing depression will not experience all
of the above, but around 5 or 6 symptoms would be typical and
would be a strong indication that you are feeling more than just
down. Sometimes, people find that their symptoms are worse
in the mornings.
Some of the physical symptoms of depression include:
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physical aches and pains
tiredness and loss of energy
loss of sex drive or sexual difficulties
loss or increase of appetite
problems getting off to sleep or waking early
poor sleeping patterns or sleeplessness
These symptoms may, however, be a result of your brain
tumour and/or the treatment you are receiving.
Possible causes of depression
There are many possible causes of depression and no one single
cause. Causes differ greatly between people and can often be
down to a combination of factors. Because of this, something
you may have found easy to cope with at one point in your life
may have a significant impact at another point in your life when
combined with other difficulties. Below are some of the
possible causes of depression but please note that these may
well overlap:
Biological
A family history of depression is one of the biggest risk
predictors, with bipolar depression (experiencing mood swings
alternating between elation and depression) having the most
clear genetic influences. We do not know the reasons behind
the genetic link but it could be a combination of factors
including prenatal factors (things that happened in the womb),
our experiences in life or our family experiences.
Psychological
Depression could be triggered by the diagnosis of a brain
tumour or as an effect of the treatment you are having. It
could also be because of the impact of living with a brain
tumour on your life, for example forcing you to give up your
job or reducing your social network.
Continued overleaf >
Medications
Some of the drugs you may take when you are diagnosed with
a brain tumour may have an effect on your mood. Steroids may
cause underlying or pre-existing mental health problems to
intensify and may occasionally be the cause of mental health
problems. These side effects usually appear within a couple of
weeks of treatment starting and tend to happen when you are
on a high dose of steroids or when withdrawing from steroids.
If you are experiencing such effects you should always consult
your doctor.
Psychological treatments
If you are experiencing depression, your doctor may refer you for
psychological treatments. The type of treatment you are
referred for, however, will depend on what is available in your
area, the severity of your depression and your own personal
preferences. Treatments may include:
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Ways of coping with depression
There are many different ways to treat or improve symptoms
of depression and different people find different ways helpful.
If you are experiencing depression, it is very important to
speak to your doctor as they will be able to talk through
possible options to help you. These might include prescribing
anti-depressant medication, or referring you to another health
professional such as a psychologist, counsellor or psychiatrist,
or a combination of these.
Anti-depressants
Many studies have shown that anti-depressants are an
effective treatment for depression, but none of them have
studied patients with a brain tumour. Anti-depressants can
cause unpleasant side effects and could potentially affect
symptoms of epilepsy, fatigue and memory problems.
Unfortunately there is currently a lack of evidence about
the balance of benefit and risk of anti-depressants in brain
tumour patients.
If you are considering taking anti-depressants, your doctor
will be familiar with your medical history and any medication
you are on from your medical records. Nonetheless, it is
important to discuss with them which medications are suitable
for you and to keep good communication with your doctor
with regards to any side effects you may experience (for
additional information see fact sheets on memory problems and
brain tumours and fatigue and brain tumours).
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Cognitive behaviour therapy
A treatment that helps you to look at negative thoughts and
how these affect your behaviour
Guided self help
A programme that follows a series of books with the guidance
of a trained health professional
Counselling
This is a form of talking therapy. This involves talking your
thoughts and feelings through with somebody in a safe and
accepting environment.
Psychiatry
You may be referred to a psychiatrist if your depression gets
worse or continues even though you have had other treatments.
A psychiatrist may look at your treatment programme,
suggesting new drugs that they feel may work better or a
combination of drugs. Currently the most effective treatment
for dealing with long-term or severe depression is a combination
of medication and psychological treatments.
Additional techniques that may help
In addition to your doctor’s advice, there are some self-help
techniques that you may find helpful. These include:
Talking about the way you are feeling
Many people find talking about how they are feeling very helpful.
You could share your feelings and experiences with close friends
and family members or with other people who are experiencing
depression at a support group (either online or face-to-face).
Keeping informed
When you or a loved one is living with a brain tumour, a lack of
information can often leave you feeling helpless and increase
anxiety. Keeping informed about your treatment plan and having
good communication with your medical team can help reduce
your worries. To help you stay informed, ask your health team
any questions that you wish to. Some people find it helpful to
note these down and take them into the consultation to ensure
they remember to ask all of their questions.
Learning relaxation techniques
Some people find that techniques such as relaxation,
meditation and visualisation are helpful in reducing stress and
anxiety and in promoting feelings of emotional well-being.
Maintain social contact
When you have depression it can be easy to cut off social
contact with friends. By meeting up with people on a regular
basis or chatting on the phone you can find an important
source of emotional well-being.
Join a support network
Many people find support from others in similar situations
comforting. This support can be gained through brain
tumour support groups, carer support groups, meet-ups
and online forums.
Be careful not to get too tired
When we are tired we can often feel more emotional. If you
are undergoing treatment for a brain tumour, or are caring for
someone with a brain tumour, you can become very tired. Try
to be aware of how your body feels and plan times to rest to
make sure you are not draining your energy reserves to empty.
(For more information see the fact sheet on fatigue and
brain tumours).
Good diet
Try to eat a healthy diet and eat regularly even if you have
lost your appetite. Try to avoid excess alcohol and tobacco
as these can increase anxiety and depression.
Exercise
Research suggests that moderate exercise can help to alleviate
mild depression. Some studies have also shown that if you are
going through treatment for cancer, exercise can improve
quality of life, including anxiety, emotional well-being and
quality of sleep, which can affect mood. You can ask your
doctors about suitable ways of exercising.
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Resources you may find helpful
What if I have further questions?
While The Brain Tumour Charity cannot recommend any
specific resources, you may find the below organisations
and publications helpful:
If you require further information, any clarification of
information, or wish to discuss any concerns, please contact
our Information and Support Team:
Samaritans
A 24 hour helpline with trained people who can listen to you
when you need someone to talk to.
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 08457 90 90 90
MIND
MIND is a mental health organisation that provides support
and information.
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 0300 123 3393
Depression Alliance
Depression Alliance is a charity that works to prevent
depression and offers information and support to people
affected by depression: www.depressionalliance.org
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 0845 123 23 20
Niamh Wellbeing (Northern Ireland Association for Mental Health)
A network of support services throughout Northern Ireland
supporting mental wellbeing: www.niamhwellbeing.org
Tel: 028 9032 8474
Carers UK
Provides information and support for carers:
www.carersuk.org
Email: [email protected]
Carersline: 0808 808 7777 (Wed & Thur 10–12pm & 2–4pm)
A cancer patient’s guide to overcoming depression: Getting
through treatment and getting back to your life
Derek R. Hopko and Carl W. Lejuez
New Harbinger Publications, 2008
ISBN 978 157224504-4
Living with the black dog: How to cope when your partner
is depressed
Caroline Carr
White Ladder Press Ltd, 2007
ISBN 13 9781905410101
Call: 0808 800 0004
(free from landlines and most mobiles:
3, O2, Orange, T-mobile, EE, Virgin and Vodafone)
Email: [email protected]
Join our online forums at:
thebraintumourcharity.org
Depression and
brain tumours
Your notes
About us
The Brain Tumour Charity makes every effort to ensure that
we provide accurate, up-to-date and unbiased facts about
brain tumours. We hope that these will add to the medical
advice you have already been given. Please do continue to talk
to your doctor if you are worried about any medical issues.
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About this fact sheet
This fact sheet has been written and edited by The Brain
Tumour Charity’s Information and Support Team. The
accuracy of medical information has been verified by a leading
neuro-psychiatrist. Our fact sheets have been produced with
the assistance of patient and carer representatives and
up-to-date, reliable sources of evidence. If you would like a
list of references for any of the fact sheets, or would like more
information about how we produce them, please contact us.
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© The Brain Tumour Charity
Version 2, April 2013. Review date, 2016