Tamoxifen Treatment and New-Onset Depression in Breast Cancer Patients

The authors conducted a retrospective cohort study of female patients diagnosed with breast cancer (BRCA), evaluating the risk of new-onset depression associated with tamoxifen treatment among those with estrogen receptor-positive (ER + ) tumors, versus estrogen receptor-negative (ER–) tumors, who were not receiving tamoxifen. A total cohort of 2,943 patients was identified. The hazard-ratio for new-onset depression in the tamoxifen group was nonsignificant. A post-hoc analysis revealed that chemotherapy and ER + status were significantly and independently associated with an increased risk for developing depression.