Iatrogenic Acute Estrogen Deficiency and Psychiatric Syndromes in Breast Cancer Patients

• Published in: Psychosomatics (Washington, D.C.) Vol. 40; no. 4; pp. 304 - 308
• Main Authors: Duffy, Laura Sheingold, Greenberg, Donna B., Younger, Jerry, Ferraro, Marie G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC Elsevier Inc 01.07.1999; American Psychiatric Press; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - psychology; Breast Neoplasms - therapy; Climacteric - psychology; Depression; Depressive Disorder, Major - diagnosis; Depressive Disorder, Major - psychology; Drug toxicity and drugs side effects treatment; Estrogens - deficiency; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Iatrogenic Disease; Medical sciences; Menopause, Premature - psychology; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous (drug allergy, mutagens, teratogens...); Mood disorders; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Mood disorder; Antineoplastic agent; Human; Toxicity; Deficiency; Menopause; Estrogen; Depression; Malignant tumor; Ovarian hormone; Mammary gland diseases; Chemotherapy; Risk factor; Female; Mammary gland; Sex steroid hormone
• ISSN: 0033-3182; 1545-7206
• DOI: 10.1016/S0033-3182(99)71223-5

The change of estrogen function, represented by amenorrhea or hot flashes, that results from breast cancer treatment may increase the risk of major depressive disorder in those women undergoing treatment for breast cancer. This pilot study describes the course of menopausal symptoms and the incidence of depression in 21 patients who were likely to become acutely estrogen deficient during treatment for breast cancer. These included women who lost menses during chemotherapy, who suddenly stopped estrogen replacement therapy (ERT), or who started tamoxifen. Eight patients (38%) developed major depressive disorder, the majority within 6 months of starting treatment. Twenty patients (95%) had dysphoria and/or insomnia. Fourteen patients (66%) had hot flashes. While this is only pilot data, these data suggest that breast cancer patients whose treatment precipitates menopausal symptoms should be targeted for diagnosis of depression and treated if diagnosed.