Antidepressants may be linked to a slight increased risk of breast and ovarian cancers, even at low doses, according to the results of a new systematic review. The increased risk is particularly stronger for women taking newer, selective-serotonin re-uptake inhibitor drugs (SSRIs) compared to older antidepressants.
The Harvard University researcher, Lisa Cosgrove, also found a possible bias in the research studies that she reviewed. In her review of 61 studies, she found that all independent studies saw a connection between antidepressants and breast cancer, while most of the company-sponsored studies did not mention any link.
Read the article in PloS ONE: Antidepressants and Breast and Ovarian Cancer Risk: A Review of the Literature and Researchers' Financial Associations with Industry
CTV reports on the bias suggested by the research: Study suggests bias in antidepressant, cancer research
See the story on the reseach in Bloomberg: Breast-Cancer Link to Paxil Drug Category Found in Antidepressant Research
Read the commentary on Pharmalot: Antidepressants, Breast Cancer & Industry Studies
