Depression predicts longitudinal declines in social support among women with newly diagnosed breast cancer.

Objective: Among breast cancer survivors, low social support is associated with adverse clinical and psychosocial outcomes. This study prospectively examined longitudinal trends in perceived social support in women with newly diagnosed breast cancer as a function of depression status prior to initiation of cancer treatment.

Methods: One hundred ten patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer and 59 age-matched noncancer controls completed behavioral measures at four assessments: prior to treatment and at 1 month, 1 year, and 2 years post-treatment.