Depression increases cancer death risk

Depression can increase a cancer patient’s risk of dying, new research has indicated.
 
Researchers analysed the results of 26 studies that examined the effects of depression on patients’ cancer progression and survival.
 
The researchers found an increased risk of death in patients who report more depressive symptoms than others, and also in patients who had been diagnosed with a depressive disorder compared to patients who have not.
 
In the combined studies, the death rates were up to 25% higher in patients experiencing depressive symptoms and 39% 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.
 
They concluded that it is important for physicians to regularly screen cancer patients for depression and to provide appropriate treatments. Additional research should also be conducted, they said.
 
The research was conducted in the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. It was published in the American Cancer Society’s journal Cancer.

[Posted: Mon 14/09/2009]