The Relationship between Tamoxifen and Depressive Symptoms in Women with Breast Cancer
The purpose of this study was to determine whether women with breast cancer and the presence of the drug tamoxifen, are more severely depressed than women with breast cancer and the absence of tamoxifen. Average Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores did not differ between the two sub-groups; however, two significant group differences were found. First, 10 women in the tamoxifen group had scores of zero (versus 4 in the absence of prescribed tamoxifen group). Research has shown that scores of zero do not always reflect an absence of depression. Second, the most severely depressed women (BDI scores in the 25 to 31 range) were also members of the tamoxifen group. These results suggest that for the women taking tamoxifen at the time of the study, a history of depression was associated with more severe depressive symptoms. Finally, among women without tamoxifen, several had discontinued tamoxifen therapy because of depressive side effects.
Chemicals and Drugs, Neoplasms, Social Work, Women's Health, Tamoxifen -- adverse effects; Depression -- chemically-induced; Breast Neoplasms -- drug therapy
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