Depression Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Depression, including details on clinical depression, medication, symptoms, treatment, counselling, therapy.

Tamoxifen treatment and new-onset depression in breast cancer patients.

Lee KC, Ray GT, Hunkeler EM, Finley PR

Loma Linda Univ. School of Pharmacy, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA. kclee@llu.edu

The authors conducted a retrospective cohort study of female patients diagnosed with breast cancer (BRCA), evaluating the risk of new-onset depression associated with tamoxifen treatment among those with estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) tumors, versus estrogen receptor-negative (ER-) tumors, who were not receiving tamoxifen. A total cohort of 2,943 patients was identified. The hazard-ratio for new-onset depression in the tamoxifen group was nonsignificant. A post-hoc analysis revealed that chemotherapy and ER+ status were significantly and independently associated with an increased risk for developing depression.

Published 4 May 2007 in Psychosomatics, 48(3): 205-10.
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