Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Prevalence and Psychobiological Correlates of Depression Among Breast Cancer Patients

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Indian Journal of Surgical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The diagnosis of breast cancer (BC) is associated with psychological stress. Various factors that contribute to psychological reactions are from the diagnosis of cancer to long uncertain treatment. A patient develops many fears in their mind starting after the diagnosis of cancer. Fear of cancer being an incurable disease, changes in body image, fear of death, separation from loved ones, and fear of pain all contribute to psychological disorders and most common disorders in cancer patients are mood, anxiety, depression, and sexual functional disorders. Research studies focus more on cancer. Only a few studies emphasized the coexistence of stress, depression, and the abilities of the individual to cope with such stressors. Depression is a comorbid illness to cancer, and if neglected, it may complicate the treatment of both illnesses, which will result in poor adherence to treatment and less desirable outcome of both the illnesses. Studies from this perspective can have meaningful implications, and can address both areas. Every clinician involved in the care of BC should also plan assessment of stress and depression and arrange medical treatment or coping interventions if symptoms are present. This review article aims to find the prevalence and psychobiological correlates of depressive disorder and its effect on mortality in women diagnosed with BC.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Indian Council of Medical Research (2012) National Cancer Registry, Annual Report. Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi

    Google Scholar 

  2. Watson M, James-Roberts IS, Ashley S, Tilney C, Brougham B, Edwards L, Baldus C, Romer G (2006) Factors associated with emotional and behavioral problems among school age children of breast cancer patients. Br J Cancer 94(1):43–50

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Onen OS, Elbi HM, Noyan A, Alper M, Kapkaç M (2004) Effects of surgery type on body image, sexuality, self-esteem, and marital adjustment in breast cancer: a controlled study. Turk psikiyatri dergisi= Turkish journal of psychiatry 15(4):264–275

    Google Scholar 

  4. Gupta B, Yaduvanshi R, Trivedi JK, Nischal A (2012) A comparative study of body image and coping style in breast cancer patients. Delhi Psychiatr J 15(1):177–182

    Google Scholar 

  5. Rosman S (2004) Cancer and stigma: experience of patients with chemotherapy-induced alopecia. Patient Educ Couns 52(3):333–339

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Kagawa-Singer M, Valdez Dadia A, Yu MC, Surbone A (2010) Cancer, culture, and health disparities: time to chart a new course? CA Cancer J Clin 60(1):12–39

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Massie MJ (2004) Prevalence of depression in patients with cancer. JNCI Monogr 2004(32):57–71

    Google Scholar 

  8. Freeman HP (2004) Poverty, culture, and social injustice: determinants of cancer disparities. CA Cancer J Clin 54(2):72–77

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Petersen RW, Quinlivan JA (2002) Preventing anxiety and depression in gynecological cancer: a randomized controlled trial. BJOG: Int J Obstetr Gynecol 109(4):386–394

    Google Scholar 

  10. Pilevarzadeh M, Amirshahi M, Afsargharehbagh R, Rafiemanesh H, Hashemi SM, Balouchi A (2019) Global prevalence of depression among breast cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Breast Cancer Res Treat 13:1–5

    Google Scholar 

  11. Tahan M, Saleem T, Zygoulis P, Pires LVL, Pakdaman M, Taheri H, Ebrahimpour M (2020) A systematic review of prevalence of depression in Iranian patients. Neuropsychopharmacol Hung 22(1):16–22

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Thakur M, Gupta B, Kumar R, Mishra AK, Gupta S, Kar SK (2019) Depression among women diagnosed with breast cancer: a study from North India. Indian J Med Paediatr Oncol 40(3):347

    Google Scholar 

  13. Musarezaie A, Naji-Esfahani H (2013) Investigation of the SWB and its relation with demographic parameters in patients with breast cancer referred to an oncology hospital affiliated to the Isfahan university of medical sciences. J Educ Health Promot 2:42

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  14. Jafari A, Goudarzian AH, Nesami MB (2018) Depression in women with breast cancer: a systematic review of cross-sectional studies in Iran. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 19(1):1–7

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Tsaras K, Papathanasiou IV, Mitsi D, Veneti A, Kelesi M, Zyga S, Fradelos EC (2018) Assessment of depression and anxiety in breast cancer patients: prevalence and associated factors. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 19(6):1661–1669

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Dujmović A, Marčinko D, Bulić K, Kisić H, Duduković M, Mijatović D (2017) Quality of life and depression among female patients undergoing surgical treatment for breast cancer: a prospective study. Psychiatr Danub 29(3):345–350

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Purkayastha D, Venkateswaran C, Nayar K, Unnikrishnan UG (2017) Prevalence of depression in breast cancer patients and its association with their quality of life: a cross-sectional observational study. Indian J Palliat Care 23(3):268–273

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. Srivastava V, Ansari MA, Kumar A, Shah AG, Meena RK, Sevach P, Singh OP (2016) Study of anxiety and depression among breast cancer patients from North India. Clin Psychiatr 2(1):4

    Google Scholar 

  19. Maharani F, Barati F, Ramezanzade Tabriz E, Bakaeian M, GholamiChaboki B (2016) Unpleasant emotions (stress, anxiety and depression) and it is relationship with parental bonding and disease and demographic characteristics in patients with breast cancer. Iran Q J Breast Dis 9(3):42–52

    Google Scholar 

  20. Shakeri J, Golshani S, Jalilian E, Farnia V, Nooripour R, Alikhani M, Yaghoobi K (2016) Studying the amount of depression and its role in predicting the quality of life of women with breast cancer. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 17(2):643–646

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Ardebil MD, Bouzari Z, Shenas MH, Keighobadi M (2013) Depression and health related quality of life in breast cancer patients. J Pak Med Assoc 63(1):69–71

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Chen X, Zheng Y, Zheng W, Gu K, Chen Z, Lu W, Shu XO (2009) Prevalence of depression and its related factors among Chinese women with breast cancer. Acta Oncol 48(8):1128–1136

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  23. Burgess C, Cornelius V, Love S, Graham J, Richards M, Ramirez A (2005) Depression and anxiety in women with early breast cancer: five-year observational cohort study. BMJ. 330(7493):702

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  24. Smith SM, Vale WW (2006) The role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in neuroendocrine responses to stress. Dialogues Clin Neurosci 8:383–395

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  25. Felger JC, Mun J, Kimmel HL, Nye JA, Drake DF, Hernandez CR, Freeman AA, Rye DB, Goodman MM, Howell LL, Miller AH (2013) Chronic Interferon-α Decreases Dopamine 2 Receptor Binding and Striatal Dopamine Release in Association with Anhedonia-Like Behavior in Nonhuman Primates. Neuropsychopharmacology. 38(11):2179–2187

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  26. Satin JR, Linden W, Phillips MJ (2009) Depression as a predictor of disease progression and mortality in cancer patients. Cancer 115:5349–5361. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.24561

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Sotelo JL, Musselman D, Nemeroff C (2014) The biology of depression in cancer and the relationship between depression and cancer progression. Int Rev Psychiatr 26(1):16–30

    Google Scholar 

  28. Miller AH, Maletic V, Raison CL (2009) Inflammation and its discontents: the role of cytokines in the pathophysiology of major depression. Biol Psychiatry 65:732–741

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  29. Reich M, Lesur A, Perdrizet-Chevallier C (2008) Depression, quality of life and breast cancer: a review of the literature. Breast Cancer Res Treat 110(1):9–17

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Pinquart M, Duberstein PR (2010) Depression and cancer mortality: a meta-analysis. Psychol Med 40:1797–1810

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  31. Pace TW, Miller AH (2009) Cytokines and glucocorticoid receptor signaling. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1179:86–105

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  32. Chen SJ, Chang CH, Chen KC, Liu CY (2016) Association between depressive disorders and risk of breast cancer recurrence after curative surgery. Medicine 95:33

    Google Scholar 

  33. Liang X, Margolis KL, Hendryx M, Reeves K, Smoller SW et al (2017) Effect of depression before breast cancer diagnosis on mortality among postmenopausal women. Cancer 123(16):3107–3115

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Hjerl K, Andersen EW, Keiding N, Mouridsen HT, Mortensen PB, Jorgensen T (2003) Depression as a prognostic factor for breast cancer mortality. Psychosomatics. 44:24–30

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Kanani R, Davies EA, Hanchett N, Jack RH (2016) The association of mood disorders with breast cancer survival: an investigation of linked cancer registration and hospital admission data for South East England. Psychooncology. 25:19–27

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Goodwin JS, Zhang DD, Ostir GV (2004) Effect of depression on diagnosis, treatment, and survival of older women with breast cancer. J Am Geriatr Soc 52:106–111

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  37. Shim EJ, Lee JW, Cho J, Jung HK, Kim NH, Lee JE, Min J, Noh WC, Park SH, Kim YS (2020) Association of depression and anxiety disorder with the risk of mortality in breast cancer: a National Health Insurance Service study in Korea. Breast Cancer Res Treat 179(2):491–498

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Lueboonthavatchai P (2007) Prevalence and psychosocial factors of anxiety and depression in breast cancer patients. J-Med Assoc Thailand 90(10):2164

    Google Scholar 

  39. Bener A, Alsulaiman R, Doodson L, Agathangelou T (2017) Depression, hopelessness and social support among breast cancer patients: in highly endogamous population. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 18(7):1889–1896

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  40. Fradelos EC, Papathanasiou IV, Veneti A, Daglas A, Christodoulou E, Zyga S, Kourakos M (2017) Psychological distress and resilience in women diagnosed with breast cancer in Greece. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 18(9):2545–2550

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  41. Mehnert A, Koch U (2008) Psychological comorbidity and health-related quality of life and its association with awareness, utilization, and need for psychosocial support in a cancer register-based sample of long-term breast cancer survivors. J Psychosom Res 64(4):383–391

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Pumo V, Milone G, Iacono M, Giuliano SR, Di Mari A, Lopiano C, Bordonaro S, Tralongo P (2012) Psychological and sexual disorders in long-term breast cancer survivors. Cancer Manag Res 4:61

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  43. Christie KM, Meyerowitz BE, Maly RC (2010) Depression and sexual adjustment following breast cancer in low-income Hispanic and non-Hispanic White women. Psycho-Oncology. 19(10):1069–1077

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  44. Begovic-Juhant A, Chmielewski A, Iwuagwu S, Chapman LA (2012) Impact of body image on depression and quality of life among women with breast cancer. J Psychosoc Oncol 30(4):446–460

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Morasso G, Costantini M, Viterbori P, Bonci F, Del Mastro L, Musso M, Garrone O, Venturini M (2001) Predicting mood disorders in breast cancer patients. Eur J Cancer 37(2):216–223

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. AIPS, Amity University Noida, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Monika Thakur & Roopali Sharma

  2. Department of Endocrine Surgery, King George’s Medical University, Shah Meena Road, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226003, India

    Anand Kumar Mishra & Kul Ranjan Singh

Authors
  1. Monika Thakur
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Roopali Sharma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Anand Kumar Mishra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Kul Ranjan Singh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anand Kumar Mishra.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Thakur, M., Sharma, R., Mishra, A.K. et al. Prevalence and Psychobiological Correlates of Depression Among Breast Cancer Patients. Indian J Surg Oncol 12, 251–257 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13193-021-01296-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13193-021-01296-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation