Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Cancer in people with depression or anxiety: record-linkage study

  • ORIGINAL PAPER
  • Published:
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

It has been suggested that the risk of cancer may be higher in people with psychological disorders, like depression and anxiety, than in the general population.

Aims

To determine cancer risk in cohorts of people with depression or anxiety, compared with that in a control cohort.

Method

Analysis of linked statistical records of hospital admission and mortality.

Results

Lung cancer was more common in those with depression (risk ratio 1.36, 95% confidence intervals 1.19–1.54) or anxiety (1.29, 1.12–1.48) than in others. Excluding lung cancer, the risk ratio for all other cancers combined was 0.98 (0.92–1.04) in the depression cohort and 1.01 (0.95–1.07) in the anxiety cohort. There was a significant association, in the short-term only, between depression, anxiety and the subsequent diagnosis of brain tumours.

Conclusions

With the exception of lung and brain tumours, cancer risk was not increased in people with depression or anxiety.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Albers AB, Biener L (2002) The role of smoking and rebelliousness in the development of depressive symptoms among a cohort of Massachusetts adolescents. Prev Med 34:625–631

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Baker-Morissette SL, Gulliver SB, Wiegel M, et al. (2004) Prevalence of smoking in anxiety disorders uncomplicated by comorbid alcohol of substance abuse. J Psychopathol Behav Assess 26:107–112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Bleiker EM, van der Ploeg HM, Hendriks JH, et al. (1996) Personality factors and breast cancer development: a prospective longitudinal study. J Natl Cancer Inst 88:1478–1482

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Breslau N, Kilbey M, Andreski P (1991) Nicotine dependence, major depression, and anxiety in young adults. Arch Gen Psychiatry 48:1069–1074

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Breslau N, Kilbey MM, Andreski P (1993) Nicotine dependence and major depression. New evidence from a prospective investigation. Arch Gen Psychiatry 50:31–35

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Breslau N, Klein DF (1999) Smoking and panic attacks: an epidemiologic investigation. Arch Gen Psychiatry 56:1141–1147

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Breslau N, Peterson EL, Schultz LR, et al. (1998) Major depression and stages of smoking. A longitudinal investigation. Arch Gen Psychiatry 55:161–166

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Breslow NE, Day NE (1987) Statistical methods in cancer research. Volume II—The design and analysis of cohort studies. IARC Sci Publ 1–406

  9. Choi WS, Patten CA, Gillin JC, et al. (1997) Cigarette smoking predicts development of depressive symptoms among U.S. adolescents. Ann Behav Med 19:42–50

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Dalton SO, Mellemkjaer L, Olsen JH, et al. (2002) Depression and cancer risk: a register-based study of patients hospitalized with affective disorders, Denmark, 1969–1993. Am J Epidemiol 155:1088–1095

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Everson SA, Goldberg DE, Kaplan GA, et al. (1996) Hopelessness and risk of mortality and incidence of myocardial infarction and cancer. Psychosom Med 58:113–121

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Farrell M, Howes S, Bebbington P, et al. (2001) Nicotine, alcohol and drug dependence and psychiatric comorbidity. Results of a national household survey. Br J Psychiatry 179:432–437

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Fergusson DM, Goodwin RD, Horwood LJ (2003) Major depression and cigarette smoking: results of a 21-year longitudinal study. Psychol Med 33:1357–1367

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Fergusson DM, Lynskey MT, Horwood LJ (1996) Comorbidity between depressive disorders and nicotine dependence in a cohort of 16-year-olds. Arch Gen Psychiatry 53:1043–1047

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Goldacre MJ, Abisgold JD, Seagroatt V, Yeates D (2005) Cancer after cholecystectomy: record-linkage cohort study. Br J Cancer 92:1307–1309

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Goldacre MJ, Kurina LM, Wotton CJ, et al. (2005) Schizophrenia and cancer: an epidemiological study. Br J Psychiatry 187:334–338

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Goldacre M, Kurina L, Yeates D, et al. (2000) Use of large medical databases to study associations between diseases. Q J Med 93:669–675

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Goldacre MJ, Wotton CJ, Seagroatt V, Yeates D (2005) Cancer following hip and knee arthroplasty: record linkage study. Br J Cancer 92:1298–1301

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Goodman E, Capitman J (2000) Depressive symptoms and cigarette smoking among teens. Pediatrics 106:748–755

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Himle J, Thyer BA, Fischer DJ (1988) Prevalence of smoking among anxious outpatients. Phobia Pract Res J 1: 5–31

    Google Scholar 

  21. Ismail K, Sloggett A, De Stavola B (2000) Do common mental disorders increase cigarette smoking? Results from five waves of a population-based panel cohort study. Am J Epidemiol 152:651–657

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Jorm AF, Rodgers B, Jacomb PA, et al. (1999) Smoking and mental health: results from a community survey. Med J Aust 170:74–77

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Justice A (1985) Review of the effects of stress on cancer in laboratory animals: importance of time of stress application and type of tumor. Psychol Bull 98:108–138

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Kaplan GA, Reynolds P (1988) Depression and cancer mortality and morbidity: prospective evidence from the Alameda County study. J Behav Med 11:1–13

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Kendler KS, Neale MC, MacLean CJ, et al. (1993) Smoking and major depression. A causal analysis. Arch Gen Psychiatry 50:36–43

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Klungsoyr O, Nygard JF, Sorensen T, et al. (2006) Cigarette smoking and incidence of first depressive episode: an 11-year, population-based follow-up study. Am J Epidemiol 163:421–432

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Knekt P, Raitasalo R, Heliovaara M, et al. (1996) Elevated lung cancer risk among persons with depressed mood. Am J Epidemiol 144:1096–1103

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Lam TH, Li ZB, Ho SY, et al. (2004) Smoking and depressive symptoms in Chinese elderly in Hong Kong. Acta Psychiatr Scand 110:195–200

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Lasser K, Boyd JW, Woolhandler S, et al. (2000) Smoking and mental illness: a population-based prevalence study. JAMA 284:2606–2610

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Linkins RW, Comstock GW (1990) Depressed mood and development of cancer. Am J Epidemiol 132:962–972

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. McGee R, Williams S, Elwood M (1994) Depression and the development of cancer: a meta-analysis. Soc Sci Med 38:187–192

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. McKenna MC, Zevon MA, Corn B, et al. (1999) Psychosocial factors and the development of breast cancer: a meta-analysis. Health Psychol 18:520–531

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Patton GC, Carlin JB, Coffey C, et al. (1998) Depression, anxiety, and smoking initiation: a prospective study over 3 years. Am J Public Health 88:1518–1522

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Penninx BW, Guralnik JM, Pahor M, et al. (1998) Chronically depressed mood and cancer risk in older persons. J Natl Cancer Inst 90:1888–1893

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Pohl R, Yeragani VK, Balon R, et al. (1992) Smoking in patients with panic disorder. Psychiatry Res 43:253–262

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Reiche EM, Nunes SO, Morimoto HK (2004) Stress, depression, the immune system, and cancer. Lancet Oncol 5:617–625

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Shekelle RB, Raynor WJ Jr, Ostfeld AM, et al. (1981) Psychological depression and 17-year risk of death from cancer. Psychosom Med 43:117–125

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Spiegel D, Giese-Davis J (2003) Depression and cancer: mechanisms and disease progression. Biol Psychiatry 54:269–282

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Over many years, the linked datafiles were built by Leicester Gill, Glenys Bettley and Myfanwy Griffith. The Unit of Health-Care Epidemiology is funded by the English Department of Health’s National Co-ordinating Centre for Research Capacity Development to analyse the linked data.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unit of Health-Care Epidemiology, Dept. of Public Health, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Old Road, Oxford, OX3 7LF, UK

    Michael J. Goldacre, Clare J. Wotton, David Yeates & Valerie Seagroatt

  2. Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

    Jonathan Flint

Authors
  1. Michael J. Goldacre
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Clare J. Wotton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. David Yeates
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Valerie Seagroatt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jonathan Flint
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael J. Goldacre.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Goldacre, M.J., Wotton, C.J., Yeates, D. et al. Cancer in people with depression or anxiety: record-linkage study. Soc Psychiat Epidemiol 42, 683–689 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-007-0211-2

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-007-0211-2

Key words

Search

Navigation