A Meta-analysis on Depression and Subsequent Cancer Risk

Overview

Journal Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Health

Publisher Bentham Open

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2007 Dec 7

PMID 18053168

Citations 42

Authors

Marjolein Ej Oerlemans

Marjan van den Akker

Agnes G Schuurman

Eliane Kellen

Frank Buntinx

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: The authors tested the hypothesis that depression is a possible factor influencing the course of cancer by reviewing prospective epidemiological studies and calculating summary relative risks.

Methods: Studies were identified by computerized searches of Medline, Embase and PsycINFO. as well as manual searches of reference lists of selected publications. Inclusion criteria were cohort design, population-based sample, structured measurement of depression and outcome of cancer known for depressed and non-depressed subjects

Results: Thirteen eligible studies were identified. Based on eight studies with complete crude data on overall cancer, our summary relative risk (95% confidence interval) was 1.19 (1.06-1.32). After adjustment for confounders we pooled a summary relative risk of 1.12 (0.99-1.26).No significant association was found between depression and subsequent breast cancer risk, based on seven heterogeneous studies, with or without adjustment for possible confounders. Subgroup analysis of studies with a follow-up of ten years or more, however, resulted in a statistically significant summary relative risk of 2.50 (1.06-5.91).No significant associations were found for lung, colon or prostate cancer.

Conclusion: This review suggests a tendency towards a small and marginally significant association between depression and subsequent overall cancer risk and towards a stronger increase of breast cancer risk emerging many years after a previous depression.

Citing Articles

Association Between Depression and Lung Cancer Risk Among Postmenopausal Women.

La Y, Jung S, Liang X, Naughton M, Hendryx M, Luo J Cancer Med. 2025; 14(5):e70695.

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Cancer Incidence Among People With a Prior Hospital Record of Depression in Scotland, 1991-2019: A Cohort Study.

Ashcroft T, Fleetwood K, Campbell C, Jackson C Cancer Med. 2025; 14(1):e70496.

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Cancer and Stress: Understanding the Connections and Interventions.

DAndre S, Ellsworth L, Kirsch J, Montane H, Kruger M, Donovan K Am J Lifestyle Med. 2024; :15598276241304373.

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The Risk and The Course of Cancer Among People with Severe Mental Illness.

Grassi L, McFarland D, Riba M Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Health. 2024; 19(Suppl-1):e174501792301032.

PMID: 38659632 PMC: 11037550. DOI: 10.2174/17450179-v17-e211208-2021-HT2-1910-8.

Associations between depression and cancer risk among patients with diabetes mellitus: A population-based cohort study.

Shi-Heng W, Hsu L, Lin M, Wu C Cancer Med. 2023; 12(19):19968-19977.

PMID: 37706606 PMC: 10587979. DOI: 10.1002/cam4.6539.

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