Effect of Mirtazapine on Improving the Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Patients
Keywords:
depresión, cáncer, calidad de vida, mirtazapinaAbstract
Introduction: Mirtazapine is an antidepressant drug with serotonergic and noradrenergic effects, which is used to treat various cancer symptoms.
Objective: Describe the effect of Mirtazapine medication on improving the quality of life in breast cancer patients, in Sabzevar, Iran.
Methods: This study was conducted as a randomized controlled clinical trial on two groups of breast cancer patients referred to the chemotherapy and radiotherapy center at Vasei Educational Hospital in Sabzevar, Iran, in 2022. After random assignment, the research had 55 patients in the intervention group (Mirtazapine) and 55 in the control group. The intervention group received Mirtazapine medication for 8 weeks under the supervision of a psychiatrist, at a daily dose of 15-30 milligrams. After 8 weeks, all patients were asked to complete a quality-of-life questionnaire again. The data was analyzed using SPSS 24 software and a t-test, and chi-square test, with a significance level of 0.05.
Results: The average age of the patients was 54.05±12.91. The two groups were homogeneous in all quantitative and qualitative variables before the intervention, and there was no significant statistical difference (p > 0.05).
The comparison of the average variables in the two groups in the field of quality of life after intervention has been reported to be significant (P = 0.008). Moreover, this comparison in the field of general health after intervention between the two research groups was not significant (p = 0.779). The use of Mirtazapine medication in cancer patients significantly improved sleep quality and sexual relationships, and improved their sexual function, mood, sadness, anxiety, and depression (p <0.001).
Conclusion: A recent study showed that using Mirtazapine medication in cancer patients enhances sleep quality, satisfaction in sexual relationships, mood, depression, and anxiety symptoms, and overall quality of life without affecting the general health subscale.
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References
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