OBJECTIVES:

Breast (BC) and genital organ cancers (GOC) are known to have a major impact on the quality of life of patients The aim of this study was to analyze the risk of depression, anxiety, and adjustment disorders in women in Germany with a suspected but unconfirmed diagnosis of BC or GOC in their past medical history.

METHODS:

This study included women who received a suspected diagnosis of BC or GOC and were followed between 2007 and 2015 (index date). These women were matched (1:1:1) to women with a confirmed diagnosis of BC or GOC and women without a cancer diagnosis. The main outcome measure of the study was the rate of depression, anxiety, and adjustment disorder diagnoses within three years of index date.

RESULTS:

A total of 4,842 patients were included in the present analysis (mean age=49.3 years). Within three years of the index date, 23.5% of women with a confirmed diagnosis of BC or GOC, 14.1% of those with a suspected diagnosis of BC or GOC, and 10.5% of those without a cancer diagnosis, developed depression, anxiety, or an adjustment disorder (log-rank p-value<0.001). Women with a suspected diagnosis of cancer were at a higher risk for these psychiatric conditions than those without a cancer diagnosis (BC and GOC: HR=1.32; BC: HR=1.21; GOC: HR=1.50).

CONCLUSIONS: A suspected diagnosis of BC or GOC in a woman’s medical history is associated with an increased risk of developing depression, anxiety, and adjustment disorders.