Depression Increases Cancer Patients’ Risk of Dying
Reported September 14, 2009
(Ivanhoe Newswire) — Depression can affect a cancer patient’s likelihood of survival, according to a new study that highlights the need for systematic screening of psychological distress and subsequent treatment.
To determine the effects of depression on cancer patients’ disease progression and survival, Jillian Satin, MA, of the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, and colleagues analyzed 26 studies, with a total of 9,417 patients, which examined the effects of depression on patients’ cancer progression and survival.
“We found an increased risk of death in patients who report more depressive symptoms than others and also in patients who have been diagnosed with a depressive disorder compared to patients who have not,” Satin was quoted as saying.
In the combined studies, the death rates were up to 25 percent higher in patients experiencing depressive symptoms and 39 percent higher in patients diagnosed with major or minor depression. The increased risks remained even after considering patients’ other clinical characteristics that might affect survival, indicating that depression may actually play a part in shortening survival.
The authors said, however, that additional research is needed before any conclusions can be reached. The authors added that their analysis combined results across different tumor types, so future studies should look at the effects of depression on different kinds of cancer.
The researchers did not find a clear association between depression and cancer progression. They noted that the actual risk of death associated with depression in cancer patients is still small, so patients should not feel that they must maintain a positive attitude to beat their disease. Nevertheless, the study indicates that it is important for physicians to regularly screen cancer patients for depression and to provide appropriate treatment.
SOURCE: Cancer, November 15, 2009
