ABSTRACT
Depression and Anxiety ■ Medications for depression or anxiety are listed in Table 2. ■ Major depression and hopelessness are not normal or
inevitable consequences of serious illness; they increase patients’ suffering and may shorten life. ▲ If you feel depressed around the patient, consider that the
patient may be depressed. ■ Physical symptoms such as altered sleep, appetite, and ener-
gy are less useful for the diagnosis of depression in patients at the end of life. ▲ Simply asking, “Are you depressed?” is a quick, accurate
way to screen for depression in this population.
