OBJECTIVE: To emphasize the importance of treating a major depressive episode in an elderly patient with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). METHOD: A case report is described to illustrate the importance of treating depression in an elderly patient with SCLC undergoing chemotherapy. RESULTS: During the course of antidepressant therapy with nefazodone, the patient also experienced a remission of cancer chemotherapy-induced emesis. CONCLUSIONS: This case report suggests that the remission of emesis could be related to the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) antagonistic property of nefazodone.
OBJECTIVE: To emphasize the importance of treating a major depressive episode in an elderly patient with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). METHOD: A case report is described to illustrate the importance of treating depression in an elderly patient with SCLC undergoing chemotherapy. RESULTS: During the course of antidepressant therapy with nefazodone, the patient also experienced a remission of cancer chemotherapy-induced emesis. CONCLUSIONS: This case report suggests that the remission of emesis could be related to the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) antagonistic property of nefazodone.