New Study Findings: No Link Between Depression and Anxiety with Cancer Risk

The presence of depression or anxiety was initially associated with a 6% higher risk

Depression and anxiety are often thought to increase the risk of cancer, but the research results of a large international study refute this.

According to Lonneke Van Tuijl of the UMCG, an analysis of data from several studies shows that depression and anxiety are not associated with a higher risk of most types of cancer. The results have been published online in the scientific magazine CANCER.

In the PSY-CA study, Van Tuijl and her colleagues reviewed data from 18 study groups from the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Norway and Canada. They studied the information of more than 300,000 adults.

Patients followed for a long period of time
The researchers followed the patients over a longer period of time, up to 26 years. They found no association between depression or anxiety and breast, prostate, colorectal and alcohol-related cancer and all cancers combined.

The presence of depression or anxiety was previously associated with a 6% higher risk of developing lung cancer and smoking-related cancers. But the research now shows that cancer-related risk factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, body mass index and cancer-specific risk factors play a greater role in the development of lung cancer and smoking-related cancers.

Relief
“Our results may come as a relief to many cancer patients who believe their diagnosis is attributable to previous anxiety or depression. However, further research is needed to understand exactly whether depression, anxiety, health behaviors and lung cancer are linked,” said Dr. From Tuijl.

The impetus for the study was the theory that depression and anxiety may increase the risk of cancer. Some previous studies seemed to have shown a link between depression, anxiety and cancer, while other studies have found no or a negligible link. It has now been shown that there is no connection between depression, anxiety and cancer, if risk factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption and body mass index and cancer-specific risk factors are taken into account.

Bron: UMCG

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2023-08-08 06:00:55
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