Major depression and cancer: the 13-year follow-up of the Baltimore Epidemiologic Catchment Area sample (United States)

Objective: The relationship between depression and development of cancer is not well understood, with some studies finding a significant but small inc rease in risk for cancer among persons with depression. No studies have emp loyed standardized interviews keyed to the diagnostic criteria for Major De pression. Our objective was to evaluate the relationship between Major Depr ession at baseline and new onset of cancer at follow-up. Method: The study was based on a population-based 13-year follow-up survey of community-dwelling adults living in East Baltimore in 1981. After exclud ing 372 persons with a history of cancer or those whom reported their healt h as poor at the baseline interview, 3109 adults remained. Information on b aseline depression status and cancer at follow-up was available for 2017 pe rsons. A diagnosis of cancer was ascertained at follow-up through interview of survivors and from death certificates. Results: There were 203 new cases of cancer among 2017 persons at risk. Nei ther Major Depression (relative risk (RR) = 1.0, 95% confidence interval (C I) 0.5-2.1) nor dysphoric episode (RR = 1.3, 95% CI 0.9-1.9) were significa ntly associated with increased risk of cancer at follow-up. However, among women with Major Depression, the risk of breast cancer was increased (adjus ted RR = 3.8, 95% CI 1.0-14.2). Conclusions: We found no overall association of depression with cancer. How ever, among women, Major Depression (but not dysphoric episode alone) was a ssociated with the onset of breast cancer.