Depression among cancer patients may be associated with a higher risk of dying from cancer, according to a new study. Researchers found that 22% of the cancer patients included in the study had been diagnosed with major depressive disorder. These patients had an 11% higher risk of cancer-related death compared with those who did not have depression. According to the findings, one year after a cancer diagnosis, the cancer-related mortality rate was 29% among patients with depression, compared with 21% among those without depression. After five years, the rates were 43% and 35%, respectively. The study’s lead author, Dr. Edmund M. Kiau, said symptoms of depression during cancer treatment are often overlooked because fatigue, difficulty concentrating and loss of interest in activities can also result from cancer itself or its treatment. The researchers said early psychological screening following a cancer diagnosis, along with referral for psychotherapy when needed, could be an important part of comprehensive cancer care. The analysis also found that patients who received psychotherapy soon after being diagnosed with cancer had a lower risk of dying from cancer. However, the researchers emphasized that the findings show an association between depression and cancer-related mortality and do not prove that depression directly causes death. The study findings were presented at the annual conference of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).
