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Breast cancer diagnosis and depression

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Breast cancer news 3/25/2005

    About 50% of the women who were diagnosed with early breast cancer will develop depression, anxiety, or both within one year after diagnosis as per a new study published in the British Medical Journal. The study also showed that the depression rate would be 25% in the second, third, and fourth years, and 15% in the fifth year. Forty-five percent of patients who experienced recurrence of breast cancer experienced depression, anxiety, or both within three months of the diagnosis.

    Women who had previous psychological treatment developed depression, anxiety, or both much earlier than those who did not have similar treatment. The duration of depression and anxiety, were more in women with previous psychological treatment, lack of an intimate confiding relationship, younger age, and severely stressful non-cancer life experiences. Women who lacked intimate confiding support also had more protracted course of depression and anxiety.

    The authors conclude that increased levels of depression, anxiety, or both in the first year after a diagnosis of early breast cancer highlight the need for dedicated service provision during this time. Psychological interventions for women with breast cancer who remain disease free should take account of the broader social context in which the cancer occurs, with a focus on improving social support.

    The study was conducted on a series of 222 women, aged 60 years or younger, with a diagnosis of early breast cancer at Guy's Hospital breast unit between May 1991 and July 1994. Patients who had previous or concomitant malignancy, pregnancy, and age over 60 were excluded from the study. The women were treated surgically by lumpectomy, axillary clearance, and radiotherapy or by modified radical mastectomy followed by adjuvant therapy as determined by the women's biological risk factors.

    Patients were enrolled in to the study at about eight weeks after diagnosis. They were interviewed five months after diagnosis and then every 18 months up to five years. Women who had a recurrence took part in a final interview about eight weeks after diagnosis.

    The authors Caroline Burgess, Victoria Cornelius and others, make the following statement "Our large cohort study is unique in that we used structured interviews and standardised diagnostic criteria to assess the point prevalence and period prevalence of clinically important depression and anxiety in women with early breast cancer in the five years after diagnosis. We also used a standardised interview method to examine the broader social context in which cancer occurred."