Brief Communication Antidepressants and the Risk of Breast Cancer

Results: Both articles are based upon case–control studies. In the first paper, the authors examine the relation between tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and an increased risk of breast cancer. The study upon which the paper is based has several design strengths, and the paper presents findings that have biological plausibility. However, the conclusions are weakened by the lack of accounting for potential confounding factors and multiple statistical comparisons. In the second paper, the authors combined survey and administrative data to examine the association between antidepressant use and breast cancer risk. The press article notwithstanding, the second paper does not find a significant association between specific antidepressants and an increased risk of breast cancer, after adjusting for potential confounders. There are significant methodological limitations to the research upon which the paper is based.