NU-20: ANTIDEPRESSANT USAGE IN PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR PATIENTS

INTRODUCTION: Pediatric patients with brain tumors often report poor quality of life during and after treatment. Anxiety and depression are known components of quality of life measures. Although it is documented that adults with brain tumors are commonly treated for depression, little is known of the incidence of anti-depressant use in children with brain tumors. METHODS: After local IRB approval, a retrospective chart review of pediatric brain tumor patients was completed at two major centers in the US to examine current number of patients on antidepressant medication. Diagnosis, tumor location, gender, and age were also collected. RESULTS: In 2015, 34 (5.7%) of 595 pediatric brain tumor patients were on anti-depressants. Older pediatric patients and more malignant tumors appeared to have a higher incidence of antidepressant usage. CONCLUSIONS: Although children with brain tumors may be at higher risk for mental illness, in our experience, antidepressant usage appears to be less frequent in the pediatric brain tumor population (5.7%) than reported in the normal US pediatric population (8%). These data support further research into the area of antidepressant use in childhood brain tumors as well as documenting the need for early intervention in this high risk group.