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Activation syndrome caused by paroxetine in a cancer patient
Tomomi Nishida1, Makoto Wada, Mei Wada
1Department of Psycho-oncology, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Saitama, Japan. t-nishida@saitama-med.ac.jp
Abstract:
Individuals with cancer have two to four times an increased risk of depressive disorders compared to the general population. Depressive symptoms are related to impaired daily life functioning and a rise in health care utilization. Pharmacological treatments for depression are usually effective to reduce depressive symptoms, but sometimes lead to serious adverse reactions. We describe a cancer patient who developed sudden psychological and behavioral abnormalities after administration of the antidepressant paroxetine. Impulsive and aggressive symptoms are a so-called activation syndrome that can cause violent or suicidal tendencies. Palliative care staff should pay close attention to these potentially lethal reactions and make an immediate and correct diagnosis.
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