Depression Lowers Survival Rates In Breast Cancer Patients

First Posted: Dec 01, 2015 12:20 PM EST

A new study examines survival rates among breast cancer patients who also have depression.

Researchers at King's College London found that women with breast cancer who subsequently had a recorded diagnosis of depression had a 45 percent higher risk of death of all causes than patients who were not diagnosed with the mental health issue, as well.

During the study, researchers analyzed cancer registration and hospital records for 77,173 women in South East England diagnosed with breast cancer between 2000 and 2009, following them until the end of 2010. From this sample, 442 already had a record of prior depression before they were diagnosed with breast cancer. Another 553 had a new diagnosis of depression recorded as well after the breast cancer diagnosis.

This link remained even after researchers took different factors into account, including older age at cancer diagnosis, how advanced the cancer was at the time of diagnosis, socioeconomic status and having other diseases.

The study findings showed that the overall risk was 1.45 times higher or 45 percent higher for women who had depression during the study period.

"Low mood and depression are understandable reactions to a breast cancer diagnosis. Clinicians generally know to look out for this, but these findings emphasise the need to ask patients with cancer about their mood and for women to know it's okay to ask for help. It is important women feel they can talk about these feelings and do not feel guilty about difficulty coping or depression, which can be a natural response to cancer diagnosis," said lead study author Dr. Elizabeth Davies of the Division of Health and Social Care Research and Cancer Studies at King's College London, in a news release. "Greater social support or psychological interventions for women with breast cancer could help to reduce the negative effects amongst those most at risk of depression."

The study is published in the journal Psycho-Oncology.

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TagsHealth, Human, Breast Cancer, Psycho-Oncology, Cancer, Examine, Analyze, Clinicians, Diagnosis, Intervention, women, Depression, King's College London, Psychological