Depression may be an overlooked factor in cancer outcomes, according to a large SEER-Medicare analysis of more than 265,000 adults with six common cancers. Researchers found that patients with major depressive disorder had a higher risk of dying from their cancer, while those who received psychotherapy within four weeks of their cancer diagnosis had a 21% lower risk of cancer-specific mortality.
Only 3% of patients with depression received psychotherapy in that early window, however.