OBJECTIVE

To emphasize the importance of treating a major depressive episode in an elderly patient with small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

METHODS

A case report is described to illustrate the importance of treating depression in an elderly patient with SCLC undergoing chemotherapy.

RESULTS

During the course of antidepressant therapy with nefazodone, the patient also experienced a remission of cancer chemotherapy-induced emesis.

CONCLUSIONS

This case report suggests that the remission of emesis could be related to the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) antagonistic property of nefazodone.