Treatment of Depression in the Patient with Cancer & Terminal Illness: Diagnostic Clarity and Practical Management

SELF STUDY / ENDURING - ESTIMATED TIME TO COMPLETE ACTIVITY: 40 Minutes

Overview

Patients with cancer and terminal illness experience depression within a complex clinical context that can obscure diagnosis and influence treatment decisions. This educational session explores the distinction between normal grief, adjustment disorder, and major depressive disorder, with emphasis on clinically meaningful psychological symptoms and validated screening approaches in oncology populations. Participants will examine pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatment options, apply prognosis- and symptom-based medication selection while accounting for drug interactions, and develop patient-centered care plans that integrate the multi-disciplinary team.

Target Audience

This CME initiative was designed for oncologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists, NPs, PAs, pharmacists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals involved in the treatment of patients with cancer.

Learning Objectives

  1. Explain the distinguishing characteristics of normal grief versus major depressive disorder in patients with cancer and terminal illness, referencing DSM-5-TR criteria and clinical context.
  2. Identify validated screening tools and apply appropriate diagnostic strategies in oncology populations
  3. Construct evidence-based pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment plans for depression in patients with advanced cancer, accounting for prognosis, comorbid symptoms, and potential medication interactions.
  4. Implement a patient-centered, interdisciplinary approach to managing depression in patients with cancer, incorporating oncology, psychiatry, palliative care, and psychosocial support services.   

Target Audience:

This activity is intended for oncology nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, clinical pharmacists, and other healthcare providers involved in the care of patients with cancer.

 

Presented By

   

                                         

Course summary

Available credit: 
  • 0.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

    This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). Horizon CME is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

    Horizon CME designates this Enduring activity for a maximum of 0.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Course opens: 
10/08/2026
Course expires: 
10/09/2027
Cost:
$0.00
Rating: 
0

Faculty

Amelia Toomey, DMSc, PA-C

Executive Director
Columbus Free Clinic
Columbus, OH

Dr. Amelia Toomey, DMSc, PA-C is a physician associate specializing in high-acuity psychiatry, with clinical expertise across the full spectrum of mental illness. She earned her Doctor of Medical Science from Lynchburg University and completed her PA training at the Yale University School of Medicine. She practices high-acuity outpatient psychiatry at Hopewell Health, where she provides care to children, adolescents, and adults with complex psychiatric and medical needs, including patients with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses.

Amelia also serves as the Executive Director of the Columbus Free Clinic, the OSU-affiliated, free clinic that delivers comprehensive medical and behavioral health services to uninsured and underinsured patients in Central Ohio. In this role, she also serves as a clinical preceptor and educator, helping train the next generation of learners in psychiatry and internal medicine. Outside of her professional roles, Amelia enjoys spending time outdoors with her dog, Zola, and her husband Zach, baking, and learning to cook dishes from a variety of cultural cuisines.

Disclosures:

In accordance with the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education, Horizon CME (HCME) ensures that continuing education activities are balanced, independent, objective, and scientifically rigorous. 

All persons in a position to influence the content of an accredited continuing education activity provided by Horizon CME are required to disclose to HCME any relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies within the past 24 months. All reported relevant financial relationships have been mitigated by Horizon CME.

Amelia Toomey, DMSc, PA-C discloses no relevant financial relationships with any entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing healthcare goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients during the past 24 months.

 

Other Contributors:

Those others involved in the planning of this activity disclosed no relevant financial relationships with any entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients.

Available Credit

  • 0.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

    This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). Horizon CME is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

    Horizon CME designates this Enduring activity for a maximum of 0.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Price

Cost:
$0.00
Please login or register to take this course.

There are no fees for participating and receiving CME credit for this enduring activity. To receive CME credit participants must:

  1. Read the CME/CE information and faculty disclosures.
  2. Participate in the online activity.
  3. Complete the post-test
  4. Submit the evaluation form

DISCLAIMER:

This activity is designed for educational purposes. Participants have a responsibility to utilize this information to enhance their professional development to improve patient outcomes. Conclusions drawn by the participants should be derived from careful consideration of all available scientific information. The participant should use his/her clinical judgment, knowledge, experience, and diagnostic decision-making before applying any information, whether provided here or by others, for any professional use.

Required Hardware/software

Access to the internet is required.

Supported Browsers:

Internet Explorer 8.0+ for Windows 2003, Vista, XP, Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and above

Google Chrome 28.0+ for Windows, Mac OS, or Linux

Mozilla Firefox 23.0+ for Windows, Mac OS, or Linux

Safari 6.0+ for Mac OSX 10.7 and above

 

Supported Phones & Tablets:

 Android 4.0.3 and above

iPhone/iPad with iOS 6.1 or above