Research Reveals Having Depression Triples Mortality Rate for Women With Breast Cancer

A new study led by New Mexico State University has found having depression severely raises the risk of mortality for women with breast cancer.

The authors cross-referenced data from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention and the 2005-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey regarding over 4,700 women over the age of 45. Among the sample, roughly 5.1 percent of women had breast cancer and 12.7 percent of women had depression. The research team examined the women’s mortality outcomes over the 7.6 years following the survey’s completion.

Compared to women without breast cancer or depression, both women with only breast cancer and women with only depression were roughly 1.4 times more likely to die. When comparing mortality of women without either diagnosis to women with both diagnoses, women with both breast cancer and depression were three times more likely to die.

The authors believe their findings point towards a need to use collaborative care that addresses both physical and mental health needs of women with breast cancer. They also highlight that women with specific characteristics, such as underrepresented racial backgrounds, lower income sectors, and other chronic diseases, are more likely to experience both breast cancer and depression, suggesting extra attention is needed for women from these high-risk backgrounds.