This is a prospective and retrospective study of 35 children and adolescents with cancer treated at a pediatric Hematology-Oncology division. Using DSM-III diagnostic criteria for Major Depressive Episode, 17% of the sample were found to be depressed. This study also describes some of the distinguishing characteristics of adults and children with cancer. For example, of particular note in this study was the apparent nonchalance of younger children diagnosed as having cancer. The children also, however, demonstrated anger more frequently, which is not a common finding in adult patients with cancer.
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