Which drug class is listed as a potential cause of depression in palliative care?

Study for ELNEC 4: Symptom Management in Palliative Care Test with flashcards and multiple choice questions. Hints and explanations included! Get ready for your exam!

Steroids are known to cause mood changes, including depressive symptoms, especially when used in higher doses or for a longer duration. In palliative care, corticosteroids like dexamethasone can improve energy and appetite, but they also affect the brain by influencing the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and various neurotransmitter systems (such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine). This can manifest as mood swings, insomnia, fatigue, or depression. If depressive symptoms appear, it’s important to reassess the steroid dose and duration, consider tapering if possible, and manage the mood disturbance alongside the underlying illness. Other drug classes listed are less typically associated with depression as a direct side effect: benzodiazepines more often cause sedation and cognitive slowing, antipsychotics can cause a range of side effects but not a classic depressive syndrome, and antibiotics are not generally linked to depression as a primary adverse effect.