Antidepressant and Antipsychotic Drug Use and Cancer Risk - Protocol for an Overview of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses

Sep 23, 2026

Uploaded by hdkawk

The protocol addresses the growing research focus on how central nervous system disorders relate to cancer risk. Antidepressants and antipsychotics, widely prescribed for depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, are evaluated as potential drug-repurposing candidates, despite evidence that effects may differ by cancer type. The study will review and synthesize systematic reviews and meta-analyses examining links between prior psychopharmacological exposure and subsequent cancer incidence and mortality.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages12

Reading Time30 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Background

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Trial Registration

Introduction

JMIR RESEARCH PROTOCOLS Sánchez-Ortí et al Protocol Antidepressant and Antipsychotic Drug Use and Cancer Risk: Protocol for an Overview of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses | Joan Vicent Sánchez-Ortí 1,2,3,4*, BSc (Hons), PhD; Jaume Forés-Martos 1,2,4,5*, BSc (Hons), PhD; Vui Doan5*, BSc (Hons); Pablo Vicente-Martínez6, BSc (Hons); Diego Macías Saint-Gerons 1,2,4,7, PhD; María Flores-Rodero3,8, BSc (Hons); Jon Sánchez-Valle8, PhD; Patricia Correa-Ghisays 1,2,3,4,9, PhD; Vicent Balanzá-Martínez 1,2,3,4,10, MD, PhD; Pau Soldevila-Matías 1,2,4,9, PhD; Joan Vila-Francés6, PhD; Emilio Soria-Olivas6, PhD; Alfonso Valencia8,11, PhD; Rafael Tabarés-Seisdedos 1,2,3,4, MD, PhD | | --- | | 1Center for Biomedical Research in Mental Health Network (CIBERSAM), Health Institute, Carlos III, Madrid, Spain 2INCLIVA Health Research Institute, Valencia, Spain
3Unit of Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
4TMAP-Evaluation Unit in Personal Autonomy, Dependency and Serious Mental Disorders, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain 5Stanford Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
6Intelligent Data Analysis Laboratory, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain 7Department of Nursery, Faculty of Nursery, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain 8Barcelona Supercomputing Center, Barcelona, Spain
9Faculty of Psychology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
10VALencia Salut Mental i Estigma (VALSME) Research Group, University ofValencia, Valencia, Spain 11Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies, Barcelona, Spain
*these authors contributed equally
Corresponding Author:
Rafael Tabarés-Seisdedos, MD, PhD
Unit of Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine Department of Medicine
University of Valencia Avenue Blasco Ibáñez, 15 Valencia, 46010
Spain
Phone: 34 963864744
Email: rafael.tabares@uv.es
Abstract | Background: The relationship between cancer and central nervous system disorders has received increasing attention recently. Consequently, antipsychotics and antidepressants, commonly prescribed for conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, have emerged as potential modulators of subsequent cancer risk. Previous studies have suggested that the use of these medications is associated with a decreased risk of cancer incidence and mortality, making them suitable candidates for drug repurposing. However, the potential therapeutic benefits do not extend to all cancer types, as some data suggest an increased risk for specific tumors. Objective: This study aims to conduct a comprehensive review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses (review of reviews) that assess whether exposure to antidepressants or antipsychotics influences cancer incidence and mortality. Methods: To provide a clear overview of this review, we have designed and registered the study protocol. Specifically, we will include systematic reviews and meta-analyses that examine the relationship between previous antipsychotic or antidepressant treatments and the subsequent cancer risk. The primary outcome will be the risk of cancer incidence and mortality (all malignant neoplasms) associated with exposure to psychopharmacological medications. Furthermore, secondary outcomes will include site-specific cancer incidence and mortality (eg, lung cancer) . Literature searches will be conducted in multiple electronic databases [https://www.researchprotocols.org/2025/1/e78596](https://www.researchprotocols.org/2025/1/e78596) XSL• FO RenderX JMIR Res Protoc 2025 | vol. 14 | e78596 | p. 1 (page number not for citation purposes) (from their inception onwards), including PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Three researchers will independently screen all citations, abstracts, and full-text articles. We will perform parallel search, selection, and extraction tasks using a large language model (GPT-4o; OpenAI)

FAQs

What is the primary outcome of this overview of systematic reviews?

The primary outcome is the risk of cancer incidence and mortality (all malignant neoplasms) associated with exposure to psychopharmacological medications.

How will the protocol search for eligible evidence?

Literature searches will be conducted in multiple electronic databases from their inception onward, including PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.

What will be evaluated regarding study validity and synthesis?

Risk of bias and the quality of individual studies will be assessed using appropriate tools, and the protocol will extract summary association measures such as pooled relative risk, odds ratio, and hazard ratio when reported.

Sep 23, 2026

Uploaded by hdkawk