Depression and anxiety are not related to an increased risk for most cancers, according to a study published in Cancer. Lonneke A. van Tuijl, PhD, and colleagues used data from the Psychosocial Factors and Cancer Incidence consortium (18 cohorts; n=319,613) to examine the association between depression and anxiety with cancer risk. No associations between depression or anxiety and incidence of overall, breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers were observed during a follow-up period up to 26 years. However, associations were seen for depression and anxiety (symptoms and diagnoses) with the incidence of smoking-related cancers (HR, 1.60), although these associations were substantially reduced when additionally adjusting for known risk factors, including smoking and BMI (HRs, 1.04 to 1.23). “Our results may come as a relief to many patients with cancer who believe their diagnosis is attributed to previous anxiety or depression,” Dr. van Tuijl said in a statement. “However, further research is needed.”
