Certain subgroups of patients with hematologic malignancies are more prone to experience distress and depression, researchers concluded after conducting a study involving 246 individuals. Participants with hematologic malignancies completed the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) and Distress Thermometer (DT) prior to receiving outpatient parenteral chemotherapy. Among the results:

• PHQ-9 score of ≥ 9 and DT score ≥ 4 pointed to a high risk of major depression and distress.
• PHQ-9 score ≥ 9 was linked with living alone, positive PHQ-2, and high Charlson comorbidity index.
• DT score ≥4 was linked with being married and female.

The authors noted that at-risk subgroups should be aggressively screened even in the absence of universal screening programs.