Association between antidepressants and breast cancer risk: systematic review of current evidence

Khalil Ibrahim Bograin; Dana Mohammed Alkram H. Motabagani; Atheer Khalid Al-Mutairi; Zahra Mohammed Alhashim; Reham Riyadh Alhassan; Nouf Mohammed Asiri; Aisha Sami Alhawal; Noura Abdulaziz Almulhim; Fatimah Abdullah Alessa

doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1756737602

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Review Article
Online Published: 06 Feb 2026

IJMDC. 2026; 10(2): 720-726

doi: 10.24911/IJMDC.51-1756737602

Association between antidepressants and breast cancer risk: systematic review of current evidence

Khalil Ibrahim Bograin, Dana Mohammed Alkram H. Motabagani, Atheer Khalid Al-mutairi, Zahra Mohammed Alhashim, Reham Riyadh Alhassan, Nouf Mohammed Asiri, Aisha Sami Alhawal, Noura Abdulaziz Almulhim, Fatimah Abdullah Alessa.

Abstract
Background: Antidepressants, especially tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, are widely prescribed, but concerns persist regarding their potential association with breast cancer risk due to their effects on serotonin pathways, hormonal modulation, and possible genotoxicity. This systematic review assesses the available data about the association between the incidence of breast cancer and antidepressant usage.
Methods: We thoroughly searched PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase for research published between 2015 and 2025 in accordance with preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses recommendations. Eligible studies included observational and clinical trials assessing antidepressant exposure and breast cancer risk in adult populations. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used by two reviewers to independently screen papers, collect data, and evaluate quality.
Results: There were eight studies with a total of 581,418 participants. The majority of research (6/8) found no connection between the risk of breast cancer and overall antidepressant usage (HR/OR range: 0.85-1.30). However, subgroup analyses revealed conflicting findings: paroxetine was linked to elevated risk in two studies (HR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.02-2.71), while SSRIs showed potential protective effects in others (HR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.74-0.98). A Mendelian randomization study found no causal relationship (OR = 1.02, 95% CI: 0.94-1.10). Methodological heterogeneity and residual confounding (e.g., depression severity, screening behaviors) were noted limitations.
Conclusion: There is now no proof that antidepressants and the risk of breast cancer are significantly correlated. However, risk may differ depending on the patient subgroup (e.g., survivors of ductal carcinoma in situ) and the medication class (e.g., paroxetine). To help with therapeutic decision-making, more studies should elucidate molecular subtypes, dose-response correlations, and confounding by depressive state.

Key words: Antidepressants, Breast cancer, SSRIs, TCAs, Pharmacoepidemiology, Systemic review

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Pubmed Style

Bograin KI, Motabagani DMAH, Al-mutairi AK, Alhashim ZM, Alhassan RR, Asiri NM, Alhawal AS, Almulhim NA, Alessa FA. Association between antidepressants and breast cancer risk: systematic review of current evidence. IJMDC. 2026; 10(2): 720-726. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1756737602

Web Style

Bograin KI, Motabagani DMAH, Al-mutairi AK, Alhashim ZM, Alhassan RR, Asiri NM, Alhawal AS, Almulhim NA, Alessa FA. Association between antidepressants and breast cancer risk: systematic review of current evidence. https://www.ijmdc.com/?mno=281262 [Access: June 27, 2026]. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1756737602

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Bograin KI, Motabagani DMAH, Al-mutairi AK, Alhashim ZM, Alhassan RR, Asiri NM, Alhawal AS, Almulhim NA, Alessa FA. Association between antidepressants and breast cancer risk: systematic review of current evidence. IJMDC. 2026; 10(2): 720-726. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1756737602

Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Bograin KI, Motabagani DMAH, Al-mutairi AK, Alhashim ZM, Alhassan RR, Asiri NM, Alhawal AS, Almulhim NA, Alessa FA. Association between antidepressants and breast cancer risk: systematic review of current evidence. IJMDC. (2026), [cited June 27, 2026]; 10(2): 720-726. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1756737602

Harvard Style

Bograin, K. I., Motabagani, . D. M. A. H., Al-mutairi, . A. K., Alhashim, . Z. M., Alhassan, . R. R., Asiri, . N. M., Alhawal, . A. S., Almulhim, . N. A. & Alessa, . F. A. (2026) Association between antidepressants and breast cancer risk: systematic review of current evidence. IJMDC, 10 (2), 720-726. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1756737602

Turabian Style

Bograin, Khalil Ibrahim, Dana Mohammed Alkram H. Motabagani, Atheer Khalid Al-mutairi, Zahra Mohammed Alhashim, Reham Riyadh Alhassan, Nouf Mohammed Asiri, Aisha Sami Alhawal, Noura Abdulaziz Almulhim, and Fatimah Abdullah Alessa. 2026. Association between antidepressants and breast cancer risk: systematic review of current evidence. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, 10 (2), 720-726. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1756737602

Chicago Style

Bograin, Khalil Ibrahim, Dana Mohammed Alkram H. Motabagani, Atheer Khalid Al-mutairi, Zahra Mohammed Alhashim, Reham Riyadh Alhassan, Nouf Mohammed Asiri, Aisha Sami Alhawal, Noura Abdulaziz Almulhim, and Fatimah Abdullah Alessa. "Association between antidepressants and breast cancer risk: systematic review of current evidence." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries 10 (2026), 720-726. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1756737602

MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Bograin, Khalil Ibrahim, Dana Mohammed Alkram H. Motabagani, Atheer Khalid Al-mutairi, Zahra Mohammed Alhashim, Reham Riyadh Alhassan, Nouf Mohammed Asiri, Aisha Sami Alhawal, Noura Abdulaziz Almulhim, and Fatimah Abdullah Alessa. "Association between antidepressants and breast cancer risk: systematic review of current evidence." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries 10.2 (2026), 720-726. Print. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1756737602

APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Bograin, K. I., Motabagani, . D. M. A. H., Al-mutairi, . A. K., Alhashim, . Z. M., Alhassan, . R. R., Asiri, . N. M., Alhawal, . A. S., Almulhim, . N. A. & Alessa, . F. A. (2026) Association between antidepressants and breast cancer risk: systematic review of current evidence. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, 10 (2), 720-726. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1756737602

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