Antidepressant medications and change in mammographic density in postmenopausal women.
BACKGROUND
Several studies suggest antidepressant medications can increase prolactin levels. Some, but not all, studies suggest prolactin levels are positively associated with mammographic breast density, an established risk factor for breast cancer.


METHODS
We evaluated 29,284 women with two routine screening mammograms 9 to 28 months apart between 1996 to 2006 to examine whether antidepressant use was associated with changes in mammographic breast density. Mammographic breast density was assigned by radiologists and coded according the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System classification. Exposure to antidepressants was ascertained based on electronic pharmacy dispensing data, including dispensings from claims data. We used polytomous logistic regression to estimate the odds of an increase or decrease in density categories between mammograms associated with antidepressant initiation, continuation, and discontinuation compared with nonusers of any antidepressants.


RESULTS
Initiation, continuation, and discontinuation of antidepressant medications were not associated with changes in mammographic density.


CONCLUSIONS
The lack of association between antidepressant use and breast density is consistent with recent studies that do not suggest an association between antidepressant use and breast cancer risk.
Chubak
Jessica
J
Group Health Center for Health Studies, Seattle, WA 98101-1448, USA. chubak.j@ghc.org
Bowles
Erin J A
EJ
Terry
Mary Beth
MB
Trentham-Dietz
Amy
A
Buist
Diana S M
DS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001940:Breast / Q000187:drug effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D012307:Risk Factors
D000928:Antidepressive Agents