Symptoms of depression in cancer patients can be reduced significantly through a new nurse-led approach that has been designed especially for patients suffering from cancer, scientists claim.

According to the research published in Lancet, about three-quarters of cancer patients are not getting psychological therapy they require despite being clinically depressed.

They believe that the "huge unmet need" is because of the focus on physical symptoms at good mental healthcare's expense. They say that depression, which can be treated at a fraction of the cost of drugs for cancer is overlooked quite often.

The researchers of Edinburgh and Oxford University are of the view that most of the time people incorrectly assume that major depress is natural reaction to the deadly disease. However this should be considered something more than transient sadness. The report also stated that a new nurse- led treatment can be beneficial for thousands of people.

The data on around 21,000 cancer patients in Scotland was analysed in a series of studies. It was found that around 6 per cent to 13 per cent people were suffering from clinical depression in comparison with only 2 per cent of general population at a given time.

Those who suffer from major depress feel low persistently, have poor appetites and find it hard to sleep. Around 75 per cent people with these symptoms were not being given any treatment. The main reason behind this was that they did not think about seeking help and the professionals failed to pick up on their illness. Majority of patients did not feel better even after a diagnosis and NHS treatment, the report found.

According to the scientists, the depressive symptoms can be reduced significantly through a new nurse-led approach that has been designed especially for patients suffering from cancer. The depression score of over 60 per cent of the patients was halved in their study involving 500 patients. These patients said they were feeling less fatigued, less anxious and experienced less pain. Only 17 per cent of the patients who were given standard NHS care had the same results.

This new approach, which includes problem ?solving therapy, encouraging patients to become as active as possible and antidepressant drugs will be delivered by a trained cancer nurse and will include a wider medical team.

Researchers believe that the programme is capable of improving the quality of life for a lot of people. The approach improves the quality of life of the patient no matter how good his prognosis is, suggest the final paper.

The researchers also informed that the therapy would cost around 600 pounds per patient.