Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

Epidemiology

The mental health impacts of receiving a breast cancer diagnosis: A meta-analysis

Abstract

Background

Receiving a breast cancer diagnosis can be a turning point with negative impacts on mental health, treatment and prognosis. This meta-analysis sought to determine the nature and prevalence of clinically significant psychological distress-related symptoms in the wake of a breast cancer diagnosis.

Methods

Ten databases were searched between March and August 2020. Thirty-nine quantitative studies were meta-analysed.

Results

The prevalence of clinically significant symptoms was 39% for non-specific distress (n = 13), 34% for anxiety (n = 19), 31% for post-traumatic stress (n = 7) and 20% for depression (n = 25). No studies reporting breast cancer patients’ well-being in our specific time frame were found.

Conclusion

Mental health can be impacted in at least four domains following a diagnosis of breast cancer and such effects are commonplace. This study outlines a clear need for mitigating the impacts on mental health brought about by breast cancer diagnosis. CRD42020203990.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Fig. 1: PRISMA flow diagram [63].
Fig. 2: Forest plot for anxiety symptoms.
Fig. 3: Forest plot for depressive symptoms.
Fig. 4: Forest plot for non-specific distress symptoms.
Fig. 5: Forest plot for PTSD symptoms.

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

Data are available upon request to the corresponding author.

References

  1. Bray F, Ferlay J, Soerjomataram I, Siegel RL, Torre LA, Jemal A. Global cancer statistics 2018: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA Cancer J Clin. 2018;68:394–424.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. de Sousa Barros AE, Conde CR, Lemos TMR, Kunz JA, da Silva Marques MDL. Feelings experienced by women when receiving the diagnosis of breast cancer. J Nurs UFPE line-Qualis B2. 2018;12:102–11.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Mertz BG, Bistrup PE, Johansen C, Dalton SO, Deltour I, Kehlet H, et al. Psychological distress among women with newly diagnosed breast cancer. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2012;16:439–43.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Holland JC, Andersen B, Breitbart WS, Buchmann LO, Compas B, Deshields TL, et al. Distress management. J Natl Compr Cancer Netw. 2013;11:190–209.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Drageset S, Lindstrøm TC, Giske T, Underlid K. “The support I need”: Women’s experiences of social support after having received breast cancer diagnosis and awaiting surgery. Cancer Nurs. 2012;35:E39–E47.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Epping-Jordan JE, Compas BE, Osowiecki DM, Oppedisano G, Gerhardt C, Primo K, et al. Psychological adjustment in breast cancer: Processes of emotional distress. Health Psychol. 1999;18:315–26.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Landmark BT, Wahl A. Living with newly diagnosed breast cancer: a qualitative study of 10 women with newly diagnosed breast cancer. J Adv Nurs. 2002;40:112–21.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Bower JE. Behavioral symptoms in patients with breast cancer and survivors. J Clin Oncol. 2008;26:768–77.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Ridner SH. Psychological distress: concept analysis. J Adv Nurs. 2004;45:536–45.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Yang H, Brand JH, Fang F, Chiesa F, Johansson AL, Hall P, et al. Time‐dependent risk of depression, anxiety, and stress‐related disorders in patients with invasive and in situ breast cancer. Int J Cancer. 2017;140:841–52.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Lim CC, Devi MK, Ang E. Anxiety in women with breast cancer undergoing treatment: a systematic review. Int J Evid Based Healthc. 2011;9:215–35.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Maass SW, Roorda C, Berendsen AJ, Verhaak PF, de Bock GH. The prevalence of long-term symptoms of depression and anxiety after breast cancer treatment: a systematic review. Maturitas. 2015;82:100–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Mitchell AJ, Chan M, Bhatti H, Halton M, Grassi L, Johansen C, et al. Prevalence of depression, anxiety, and adjustment disorder in oncological, haematological, and palliative-care settings: a meta-analysis of 94 interview-based studies. Lancet Oncol. 2011;12:160–74.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Fann JR, Thomas-Rich AM, Katon WJ, Cowley D, Pepping M, McGregor BA, et al. Major depression after breast cancer: a review of epidemiology and treatment. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2008;30:112–26.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Pinquart M, Duberstein PR. Depression and cancer mortality: a meta-analysis. Psychol Med. 2010;40:1797–810.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Brunet A, Weiss DS, Metzler TJ, Best SR, Neylan TC, Rogers C, et al. The peritraumatic distress inventory: a proposed measure of PTSD criterion A2. Am J Psychiatry. 2001;158:1480–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Kangas M, Henry JL, Bryant RA. Posttraumatic stress disorder following cancer: a conceptual and empirical review. Clin Psychol Rev. 2002;22:499–524.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Wong M, Looney E, Michaels J, Palesh O, Koopman C. A preliminary study of peritraumatic dissociation, social support, and coping in relation to posttraumatic stress symptoms for a parent’s cancer. Psycho‐Oncol. 2006;15:1093–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Leano A, Korman MB, Goldberg L, Ellis J. Are we missing PTSD in our patients with cancer? Part I. Can Oncol Nurs J. 2019;29:141–6.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  20. Arnaboldi P, Riva S, Crico C, Pravettoni G. A systematic literature review exploring the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder and the role played by stress and traumatic stress in breast cancer diagnosis and trajectory. Breast Cancer (Dove Med Press). 2017;9:473–85.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Costanzo ES, Ryff CD, Singer BH. Psychosocial adjustment among cancer survivors: findings from a national survey of health and well-being. Health Psychol. 2009;28:147–56.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Ivanauskienė R, Padaiga Ž, Šimoliūnienė R, Smailytė G, Domeikienė A. Well-being of newly diagnosed women with breast cancer: Which factors matter more? Support Care Cancer. 2014;22:519–26.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Hanson Frost M, Suman VJ, Rummans TA, Dose AM, Taylor M, Novotny P, et al. Physical, psychological and social well‐being of women with breast cancer: the influence of disease phase. Psycho‐Oncol. 2000;9:221–31.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Ouzzani M, Hammady H, Fedorowicz Z, Elmagarmid A. Rayyan—a web and mobile app for systematic reviews. Syst Rev. 2016;5:210.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  25. Welch V, Petticrew M, Petkovic J, Moher D, Waters E, White H, et al. Extending the PRISMA statement to equity-focused systematic reviews (PRISMA-E 2012): explanation and elaboration. Int J Equity Health. 2015;14:1–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Hoy D, Brooks P, Woolf A, Blyth F, March L, Bain C, et al. Assessing risk of bias in prevalence studies: modification of an existing tool and evidence of interrater agreement. J Clin Epidemiol. 2012;65:934–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Linden W, Vodermaier A, MacKenzie R, Greig D. Anxiety and depression after cancer diagnosis: prevalence rates by cancer type, gender, and age. J Affect Disord. 2012;141:343–51.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Kyranou M, Paul SM, Dunn LB, Puntillo K, Aouizerat BE, Abrams G, et al. Differences in depression, anxiety, and quality of life between women with and without breast pain prior to breast cancer surgery. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2013;17:190–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Villar RR, Fernández SP, Garea CC, Pillado M, Barreiro VB, Martín CG. Quality of life and anxiety in women with breast cancer before and after treatment. Rev Lat-Am Enferm. 2017;25:1–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Arnaboldi P, Lucchiari C, Santoro L, Sangalli C, Luini A, Pravettoni G. PTSD symptoms as a consequence of breast cancer diagnosis: clinical implications. SpringerPlus. 2014;3:1–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Primo K, Compas BE, Oppedisano G, Howell DC, Epping-Jordan JE, Krag DN. Intrusive thoughts and avoidance in breast cancer: Individual differences and association with psychological distress. Psychol Health. 2000;14:1141–53.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Tjemsland L, Søreide JA, Malt UF. Traumatic distress symptoms in early breast cancer I: acute response to diagnosis. Psycho‐Oncol. 1996;5:1–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Holland, JC, Rowland, JH. Handbook of psycho-oncology: psychological care of the patient with cancer. New York: Oxford University Press. 1989.

  34. Zabora J, BrintzenhofeSzoc K, Curbow B, Hooker C, Piantadosi S. The prevalence of psychological distress by cancer site. Psycho‐Oncol. 2001;10:19–28.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Montgomery M, McCrone SH. Psychological distress associated with the diagnostic phase for suspected breast cancer: Systematic review. J Adv Nurs. 2010;66:2372–90.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Lam WW, Bonanno GA, Mancini AD, Ho S, Chan M, Hung WK, et al. Trajectories of psychological distress among Chinese women diagnosed with breast cancer. Psycho‐Oncol. 2010;19:1044–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Witek-Janusek L, Gabram S, Mathews HL. Psychologic stress, reduced NK cell activity, and cytokine dysregulation in women experiencing diagnostic breast biopsy. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2007;32:22–35.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Baqutayan SMS. The effect of anxiety on breast cancer patients. Indian J Psychol Med. 2012;34:119–23.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  39. Stark DPH, House A. Anxiety in cancer patients. Br J Cancer. 2000;83:1261–7.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Woodward V, Webb C. Women’s anxieties surrounding breast disorders: a systematic review of the literature. J Adv Nurs. 2001;33:29–41.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Wu X, Wang J, Cofie R, Kaminga AC, Liu A. Prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder among breast cancer patients: a meta-analysis. Iran J Public Health. 2016;45:1533–44.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  42. Cordova MJ, Riba MB, Spiegel D. Post-traumatic stress disorder and cancer. Lancet Psychiatry. 2017;4:330–8.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  43. Kangas M. DSM-5 trauma and stress-related disorders: implications for screening for cancer-related stress. Front Psychiatry. 2013;4:122.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  44. Shiban E, Lehmberg J, Hoffmann U, Thiel J, Probst T, Friedl M, et al. Peritraumatic distress fully mediates the relationship between posttraumatic stress symptoms preoperative and three months postoperative in patients undergoing spine surgery. Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2018;9:1423824.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  45. Briere J, Dias CP, Semple RJ, Scott C, Bigras N, Godbout N. Acute stress symptoms in seriously injured patients: Precipitating versus cumulative trauma and the contribution of peritraumatic distress. J Trauma Stress. 2017;30:381–8.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  46. Cella DF, Cherin EA. Quality of life during and after cancer treatment. Compr Ther 1988;14:69–75.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Else-Quest NM, LoConte NK, Schiller JH, Hyde JS. Perceived stigma, self-blame, and adjustment among lung, breast and prostate cancer patients. Psychol Health. 2009;24:949–64.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Avis NE, Levine BJ, Case LD, Naftalis EZ, Van Zee KJ. Trajectories of depressive symptoms following breast cancer diagnosis. Cancer Epidemiol Prev Biomark. 2015;24:1789–95.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Pilevarzadeh M, Amirshahi M, Afsargharehbagh R, Rafiemanesh H, Hashemi SM, Balouchi A. Global prevalence of depression among breast cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2019;176:519–33.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Mols F, Vingerhoets AJ, Coebergh JW, van de Poll-Franse LV. Quality of life among long-term breast cancer survivors: a systematic review. Eur J Cancer. 2005;41:2613–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Brucker PS, Yost K, Cashy J, Webster K, Cella D. General population and cancer patient norms for the functional assessment of cancer therapy-general (FACT-G). Eval Health Prof. 2005;28:192–211.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Schnur JB, Montgomery GH, Hallquist MN, Goldfarb AB, Silverstein JH, Weltz CR, et al. Anticipatory psychological distress in women scheduled for diagnostic and curative breast cancer surgery. Int J Behav Med. 2008;15:21–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Sohl SJ, Schnur JB, Sucala M, David D, Winkel G, Montgomery GH. Distress and emotional well-being in breast cancer patients prior to radiotherapy: an expectancy-based model. Psychol Health. 2012;27:347–61.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Insel T, Cuthbert B, Garvey M, Heinssen R, Pine DS, Quinn K, et al. Research domain criteria (RDoC): toward a new classification framework for research on mental disorders. Am J Psychiatry. 2010;167:748–51.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Tang M, Liu X, Wu Q, Shi Y. The effects of cognitive-behavioral stress management for breast cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Cancer Nurs. 2020;43:222–37.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Song F, Sheldon TA, Sutton AJ, Abrams KR, Jones DR. Methods for exploring heterogeneity in meta-analysis. Ev Health Prof. 2001;24:126–51.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Manne S, Kashy D, Albrecht T, Wong YN, Lederman Flamm A, Benson III AB, et al. Attitudinal barriers to participation in oncology clinical trials: factor analysis and correlates of barriers. Eur J Cancer Care. 2015;24:28–38.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Civilotti C, Maran DA, Santagata F, Varetto A, Stanizzo MR. The use of the Distress Thermometer and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale for screening of anxiety and depression in Italian women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. Support Care Cancer. 2020;28:4997–5004.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Cohen M. Coping and emotional distress in primary and recurrent breast cancer patients. J Clin Psychol Med Settings. 2002;9:245–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  60. Thomas BC, Pandey M, Ramdas K, Nair MK. Psychological distress in cancer patients: hypothesis of a distress model. Eur J Cancer Prev. 2002;11:179–85.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Cuthbert BN, Insel TR. Toward the future of psychiatric diagnosis: the seven pillars of RDoC. BMC Med. 2013;11:1–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  62. Bovin MJ, Marx BP. The importance of the peritraumatic experience in defining traumatic stress. Psychol Bull. 2011;137:47.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J, Altman DG. & The PRISMA Group. Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement. PLoS Med. 2009;6:e1000097.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  64. Andreu Y, Galdón MJ, Durá E, Martínez P, Pérez S, Murgui S. A longitudinal study of psychosocial distress in breast cancer: Prevalence and risk factors. Psychol Health. 2012;27:72–87.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  65. Arnaboldi P, Lucchiari C, Santoro L, Sangalli C, Luini A, Pravettoni G. PTSD symptoms as a consequence of breast cancer diagnosis: clinical implications. SpringerPlus. 2014;3:392.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  66. Burgess C, Cornelius V, Love S, Graham J, Richards M, Ramirez A. Depression and anxiety in women with early breast cancer: five year observational cohort study. BMJ. 2005;330:702.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  67. Chang HA, Barreto N, Davtyan A, Beier E, Cangin MA, Salman J, et al. Depression predicts longitudinal declines in social support among women with newly diagnosed breast cancer. Psycho‐Oncol. 2019;28:635–42.

    Google Scholar 

  68. Cimprich B. Pretreatment symptom distress in women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. Cancer Nurs. 1999;22:185–94.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  69. Cimprich B, Ronis DL. Attention and symptom distress in women with and without breast cancer. Nurs Res. 2001;50:86–94.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  70. Cimprich B, So H, Ronis DL, Trask C. Pre‐treatment factors related to cognitive functioning in women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. Psycho‐Oncol. 2005;14:70–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  71. Denieffe S, Cowman S, Gooney M. Symptoms, clusters and quality of life prior to surgery for breast cancer. J Clin Nurs. 2014;23:2491–502.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  72. Farragher B. Psychiatric morbidity following the diagnosis and treatment of early breast cancer. Ir J Med Sci. 1998;167:166–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  73. Faye‐Schjøll HH, Schou-Bredal I. Pessimism predicts anxiety and depression in breast cancer survivors: a 5‐year follow‐up study. Psycho‐Oncol. 2019;28:1314–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  74. Galloway SK, Baker M, Giglio P, Chin S, Madan A, Malcolm R, et al. Depression and anxiety symptoms relate to distinct components of pain experience among patients with breast cancer. Pain Res Treat. 2012;2012:851276.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  75. Gibbons A, Groarke A, Sweeney K. Predicting general and cancer-related distress in women with newly diagnosed breast cancer. BMC Cancer. 2016;16:935–43.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  76. Glinder JG, Compas BE. Self-blame attributions in women with newly diagnosed breast cancer: a prospective study of psychological adjustment. Health Psychol. 1999;18:475–81.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  77. Hegel MT, Moore CP, Collins ED, Kearing S, Gillock KL, Riggs RL, et al. Distress, psychiatric syndromes, and impairment of function in women with newly diagnosed breast cancer. Cancer. 2006;107:2924–31.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  78. Hegel MT, Collins ED, Kearing S, Gillock KL, Moore CP, Ahles TA. Sensitivity and specificity of the distress thermometer for depression in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. Psycho‐Oncol. 2008;17:556–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  79. Henselmans I, Helgeson VS, Seltman H, de Vries J, Sanderman R, Ranchor AV. Identification and prediction of distress trajectories in the first year after a breast cancer diagnosis. Health Psychol. 2010;29:160–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  80. Jones SM, LaCroix AZ, Li W, Zaslavsky O, Wassertheil-Smoller S, Weitlauf J, et al. Depression and quality of life before and after breast cancer diagnosis in older women from the Women’s Health Initiative. J Cancer Surviv: Res Pr. 2015;9:620–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  81. Kaiser J, Dietrich J, Amiri M, Rüschel I, Akbaba H, Hantke N, et al. Cognitive performance and psychological distress in breast cancer patients at disease onset. Front Psychol. 2019;10:2584.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  82. Kant J, Czisch A, Schott S, Siewerdt-Werner D, Birkenfeld F, Keller M. Identifying and predicting distinct distress trajectories following a breast cancer diagnosis-from treatment into early survival. J Psychosom Res. 2018;115:6–13.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  83. Kennedy F, Harcourt D, Rumsey N, White P. The psychosocial impact of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS): a longitudinal prospective study. Breast. 2010;19:382–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  84. Lally RM, Bellavia G, Gallo S, Kupzyk K, Helgeson V, Brooks C, et al. Feasibility and acceptance of the caring guidance web‐based, distress self‐management, psychoeducational program initiated within 12 weeks of breast cancer diagnosis. Psycho‐Oncol. 2019;28:888–95.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  85. Lee KM, Jung D, Hwang H, Son KL, Kim TY, Im SA, et al. Pre-treatment anxiety is associated with persistent chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in women treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer. J Psychosom Res. 2018;108:14–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  86. Miranda CRR, De Resende CN, Melo CFE, Costa AL, Friedman H. Depression before and after uterine cervix and breast cancer neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2002;12:773–6.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  87. Ng CG, Mohamed S, Kaur K, Sulaiman AH, Zainal NZ, Taib NA, et al. Perceived distress and its association with depression and anxiety in breast cancer patients. PLoS ONE. 2017;12:e0172975.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  88. Oh PJ, Cho JR. Changes in fatigue, psychological distress, and quality of life after chemotherapy in women with breast cancer: a prospective study. Cancer Nurs. 2020;43:E54–E60.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  89. Oliveri S, Arnaboldi P, Pizzoli SFM, Faccio F, Giudice AV, Sangalli C, et al. PTSD symptom clusters associated with short-and long-term adjustment in early diagnosed breast cancer patients. Ecancermedicalscience. 2019;13:917.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  90. Park EM, Gelber S, Rosenberg SM, Seah DS, Schapira L, Come SE, et al. Anxiety and depression in young women with metastatic breast cancer: a cross-sectional study. Psychosom. 2018;59:251–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  91. Ramalho M, Fontes F, Ruano L, Pereira S, Lunet N. Cognitive impairment in the first year after breast cancer diagnosis: a prospective cohort study. Breast. 2017;32:173–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  92. Romeo A, Di Tella M, Ghiggia A, Tesio V, Torta R, Castelli L. Posttraumatic growth in breast cancer survivors: are depressive symptoms really negative predictors? Psychol Trauma: Theory Res Pr Policy. 2020;12:244–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  93. Stafford L, Judd F, Gibson P, Komiti A, Mann GB, Quinn M. Screening for depression and anxiety in women with breast and gynaecologic cancer: course and prevalence of morbidity over 12 months. Psycho‐Oncol. 2013;22:2071–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  94. Voigt V, Neufeld F, Kaste J, Bühner M, Sckopke P, Wuerstlein R, et al. Clinically assessed posttraumatic stress in patients with breast cancer during the first year after diagnosis in the prospective, longitudinal, controlled COGNICARES study. Psycho‐Oncol. 2017;26:74–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  95. Watson M, Greer S, Rowden L, Gorman C, Robertson B, Bliss JM, et al. Relationships between emotional control, adjustment to cancer and depression and anxiety in breast cancer patients. Psychol Med. 1991;21:51–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the members of Dr Brunet’s lab (Research Laboratory on Psychological Trauma) and Dr. Marin’s lab (Stress, Trauma, Emotions, Anxiety and Memory [STEAM] lab) for their generous feedback. The authors are thanking Dr. Bernard Fortin, MD, for providing his expertise in oncology. Dr. Marie-France Marin is thanking the Fonds de Recherche en Santé du Québec for a salary award. Finally, the authors thank Connie Guo for linguistic revisions.

Funding

The authors did not receive funding to conduct the meta-analysis.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

JF coordinated the study, carried out all the search and wrote most of the paper. ML assisted JF in all stages of the project, she also reviewed the table of results and wrote some sections of the paper. GE performed the statistical analyses and created the figures and helped with the revisions of the paper. Drs. M-FM and AB provided mentorship at all stages of the study and as the paper was being written and reviewed. Dr. MJC also provided mentorship and precious feedback, especially in the field of breast cancer and mental health. All authors have reviewed this version of the article and agreed to its publication.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Justine Fortin.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

This meta-analysis study did not thus involve human participants, human data or human tissue. No ethics approval or contentment to participate were not required.

Consent to publish

This manuscript does not contain any individual person’s data in any form, thus, consent for publication was not required.

Additional information

Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary information

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Fortin, J., Leblanc, M., Elgbeili, G. et al. The mental health impacts of receiving a breast cancer diagnosis: A meta-analysis. Br J Cancer 125, 1582–1592 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41416-021-01542-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41416-021-01542-3

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Quick links