Tamoxifen Does Not Increase Depression Risk

In a new study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Dr. Richard Day of the University of Pittsburgh and colleagues have concluded that tamoxifen use by breast cancer patients does not increase their risk of depression.

"It is known that hormone replacement therapy (e.g. estrogen) has positive effects on mood," they wrote. "Because tamoxifen has anti-estrogenic activity, concerns have been voiced by investigators and physicians that tamoxifen could therefore have negative effects on mood."

To test this theory, Day's team reviewed data from 11,064 women who took part in the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project's Breast Cancer Prevention Study. The women were randomly selected to receive either 20 mg of tamoxifen or a placebo daily for up to five years.

Each of the women were initially evaluated for depression risk on the basis of information collected as she entered the study. Then, at six-month intervals, the women were given the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Questionnaire.

As expected, the researchers found that women at greater risk for breast cancer more often scored higher (indicative of greater anxiety) on the questionnaire and for longer periods of time than women at lower breast cancer risk.

However, Day's group found that the percentage of women with higher scores did not differ between women taking tamoxifen or a placebo. Therefore, they concluded, women taking tamoxifen did not face an increased risk of depression as a side effect of their treatment.

"The findings of this study suggest that physicians need not automatically disqualify women as candidates for tamoxifen simply because they report a history of depressive symptoms or prior treatment for a depressive disorder," they wrote. "Physicians should not be overly concerned about a link between tamoxifen and depression."

SOURCE:
Journal of the National Cancer Institute, November 6, 2001; 93:1615-1623

[Table of Contents] [Archived Issues / Search] [The Breast Center]