Global Depression in Breast Cancer Patients: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Overview

Journal PLoS One

Specialties General Medicine
Science

Date 2023 Jul 26

PMID 37494393

Authors

Akbar Javan Biparva

Samira Raoofi

Sima Rafiei

Maryam Masoumi

Maryam Doustmehraban

Farzaneh Bagheribayati

Elahe Sadat Vaziri Shahrebabak

Zahra Noorani Mejareh

Saghar Khani

Bahare Abdollahi

Zahra Abedi Bafrajard

Shakila Sotoude Beidokhti

Seyedeh Fahimeh Shojaei

Mahdieh Rastegar

Fatemeh Pashazadeh Kan

Elmira Nosrati Sanjabad

Ahmad Ghashghaee

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is known as one of the most common diseases among women, the psychological consequences of which are common in women and affect various aspects of their lives, so this study aims to investigate the prevalence of depression among women with breast cancer globally.

Method: The present meta-analysis was performed by searching for keywords related to breast cancer and depression in 4 main databases: PubMed, Embase, Web of Sciences and Scopus in the period of January 2000 to November 2021 and the results of the study using R and CMA software were analyzed.

Results: A total of 71 studies were selected in English and the results of the analysis showed that the prevalence of depression in women with breast cancer is 30.2%, with Pakistan having the highest (83%) prevalence of depression and Taiwan having the lowest (8.3%). And in the WHO regions, EMRO region had the highest (49.7%) rate and SEARO region had the lowest (23%) prevalence of depression. Also, with increasing age, the prevalence of depression among women with breast cancer increases.

Conclusion: Community and family support for women with breast cancer, holding psychology and psychotherapy courses, lifestyle modifications and training in this area can be effective in preventing the reduction of the prevalence of depression, and given the pivotal role of women in family affairs, this This can be in line with the work of health system policymakers.

Citing Articles

Global prevalence and determinant factors of pain, depression, and anxiety among cancer patients: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

Getie A, Ayalneh M, Bimerew M BMC Psychiatry. 2025; 25(1):156.

PMID: 39972435 PMC: 11841195. DOI: 10.1186/s12888-025-06599-5.

Evaluation of psychological status in early-stage breast cancer outpatients: a cross-sectional study utilizing the Kessler 10 Scale.

Zhou Z, Yuan J, Zhang Y, Wu P, Lv W BMC Psychiatry. 2025; 25(1):136.

PMID: 39962469 PMC: 11834576. DOI: 10.1186/s12888-025-06610-z.

Anti-tumor Effects of Recombinant Clostridium α-Toxin on Breast Cancer: An and Study.

Rezaei Khozani N, Shayesteh Pour M, Yekani M, Hejazi S, Saffari M Int J Mol Cell Med. 2025; 13(4):404-416.

PMID: 39895919 PMC: 11786122. DOI: 10.22088/IJMCM.BUMS.13.4.404.

Determinants of Demoralization Syndrome and Social Support Among Patients with Breast Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Yang L, Song L, Zhang L, Yang Y, Zhang Y J Multidiscip Healthc. 2025; 18:369-379.

PMID: 39866346 PMC: 11766289. DOI: 10.2147/JMDH.S480476.

Anxiety, Depression, and Quality of Life in Women with Breast Cancer and Type 2 Diabetes: A Pilot Study in North Greece.

Parpori M, Tsamesidis I, Karamitrousis E, Giakidou A, Kroustalidou E, Liamopoulou P J Pers Med. 2024; 14(12).

PMID: 39728067 PMC: 11677013. DOI: 10.3390/jpm14121154.

References

Wondimagegnehu A, Abebe W, Abraha A, Teferra S . Depression and social support among breast cancer patients in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. BMC Cancer. 2019; 19(1):836. PMC: 6712811. DOI: 10.1186/s12885-019-6007-4. View

Nikbakhsh N, Moudi S, Abbasian S, Khafri S . Prevalence of depression and anxiety among cancer patients. Caspian J Intern Med. 2014; 5(3):167-70. PMC: 4143739. View

Purkayastha D, Venkateswaran C, Nayar K, Unnikrishnan U . Prevalence of Depression in Breast Cancer Patients and its Association with their Quality of Life: A Cross-sectional Observational Study. Indian J Palliat Care. 2017; 23(3):268-273. PMC: 5545951. DOI: 10.4103/IJPC.IJPC_6_17. View

Reinertsen K, Engebraaten O, Loge J, Cvancarova M, Naume B, Wist E . Fatigue During and After Breast Cancer Therapy-A Prospective Study. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2017; 53(3):551-560. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2016.09.011. View

Pumo V, Milone G, Iacono M, Giuliano S, Di Mari A, Lopiano C . Psychological and sexual disorders in long-term breast cancer survivors. Cancer Manag Res. 2012; 4:61-5. PMC: 3304333. DOI: 10.2147/CMAR.S28547. View

Reich M, Lesur A, Perdrizet-Chevallier C . Depression, quality of life and breast cancer: a review of the literature. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2007; 110(1):9-17. DOI: 10.1007/s10549-007-9706-5. View

Mustafa M, Carson-Stevens A, Gillespie D, Edwards A . Psychological interventions for women with metastatic breast cancer. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013; (6):CD004253. PMC: 11032751. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004253.pub4. View

Bener A, AlSulaiman R, Doodson L, Agathangelou T . Depression, Hopelessness and Social Support among Breast Cancer Patients: in Highly Endogamous Population. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2017; 18(7):1889-1896. PMC: 5648395. DOI: 10.22034/APJCP.2017.18.7.1889. View

Helgeson V, Snyder P, Seltman H . Psychological and physical adjustment to breast cancer over 4 years: identifying distinct trajectories of change. Health Psychol. 2004; 23(1):3-15. DOI: 10.1037/0278-6133.23.1.3. View

10.

Galloway S, Baker M, Giglio P, Chin S, Madan A, Malcolm R . Depression and Anxiety Symptoms Relate to Distinct Components of Pain Experience among Patients with Breast Cancer. Pain Res Treat. 2012; 2012:851276. PMC: 3512324. DOI: 10.1155/2012/851276. View

11.

Sheppard V, Llanos A, Hurtado-de-Mendoza A, Taylor T, Adams-Campbell L . Correlates of depressive symptomatology in African-American breast cancer patients. J Cancer Surviv. 2013; 7(3):292-9. PMC: 3737401. DOI: 10.1007/s11764-013-0273-y. View

12.

Bardwell W, Ancoli-Israel S . Breast Cancer and Fatigue. Sleep Med Clin. 2008; 3(1):61-71. PMC: 2390812. DOI: 10.1016/j.jsmc.2007.10.011. View

13.

Bleiker E, Pouwer F, VAN DER Ploeg H, Leer J, Ader H . Psychological distress two years after diagnosis of breast cancer: frequency and prediction. Patient Educ Couns. 2000; 40(3):209-17. DOI: 10.1016/s0738-3991(99)00085-3. View

14.

Vin-Raviv N, Akinyemiju T, Galea S, Bovbjerg D . Depression and Anxiety Disorders among Hospitalized Women with Breast Cancer. PLoS One. 2015; 10(6):e0129169. PMC: 4452789. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0129169. View

15.

Alemayehu M, Deyessa N, Medihin G, Fekadu A . A descriptive analysis of depression and pain complaints among patients with cancer in a low income country. PLoS One. 2018; 13(3):e0193713. PMC: 5841758. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0193713. View

16.

Gu D, Morgan R, Li R, Weber E, Shen C . Association between depression and healthcare expenditures among elderly cancer patients. BMC Psychiatry. 2020; 20(1):131. PMC: 7092441. DOI: 10.1186/s12888-020-02527-x. View

17.

Yang H, Brand J, Fang F, Chiesa F, Johansson A, Hall P . Time-dependent risk of depression, anxiety, and stress-related disorders in patients with invasive and in situ breast cancer. Int J Cancer. 2016; 140(4):841-852. DOI: 10.1002/ijc.30514. View

18.

Bower J, Ganz P, Desmond K, Rowland J, Meyerowitz B, Belin T . Fatigue in breast cancer survivors: occurrence, correlates, and impact on quality of life. J Clin Oncol. 2000; 18(4):743-53. DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2000.18.4.743. View

19.

Popoola A, Adewuya A . Prevalence and correlates of depressive disorders in outpatients with breast cancer in Lagos, Nigeria. Psychooncology. 2011; 21(6):675-9. DOI: 10.1002/pon.1968. View

20.

DeSantis C, Bray F, Ferlay J, Lortet-Tieulent J, Anderson B, Jemal A . International Variation in Female Breast Cancer Incidence and Mortality Rates. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2015; 24(10):1495-506. DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-15-0535. View