Depression does not only affect the mind; it can also seriously impact the body.
It has been linked to poor sleep, weaker immunity, and even higher cancer risk. Now, new research shows that depression may also slow recovery after major surgery.
However, patients who are treated with antidepressants appear to fare better after surgery than those who are not. This new study will be presented at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2025 in Chicago.
It was conducted by researchers from The Ohio State University and its Wexner Medical Center. The scientists wanted to understand how depression affects recovery for people undergoing cancer surgery.
They studied data from over 32,000 patients with colorectal, liver, and pancreatic cancers, focusing on those who were diagnosed with depression either in the year before or the year after their cancer diagnosis. Using prescription records from Medicare, the researchers were able to identify which patients received antidepressants and which did not.
They then compared how well these patients recovered after surgery. An “ideal” recovery meant there were no complications, the hospital stay was not long, and the patient was not readmitted or did not die within 90 days of surgery. Out of 32,726 patients, 1,731 also had depression.
Among them, 1,253 had been prescribed antidepressants and 478 had not. The results were clear: patients with depression generally did worse after surgery, no matter what. They stayed in the hospital longer, were more likely to be readmitted, and faced higher medical costs.
But among the depressed patients, those who took antidepressants did better than those who did not. They were less likely to have complications, went home sooner, and were less likely to die after surgery. Their care also cost less compared to untreated depressed patients.
Patients without depression still had the best outcomes and the lowest costs of care—about $17,550 on average—while patients with treated depression had costs about 7% higher and untreated depression patients had costs 10% higher.
Doctors believe that treating depression helps patients recover because it improves how well they can take care of themselves and follow medical advice. Previous studies have shown that people with depression are more likely to miss medications or skip medical instructions.
Timothy Pawlik, senior author of the study and a surgical oncologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, said that mental health should be part of every patient’s care plan. Screening for depression before surgery could allow doctors to better support patients and prevent problems.
The researchers noted that they only measured antidepressant prescriptions and did not track whether patients were also seeing therapists or psychiatrists, which is a limitation. Still, the findings strongly suggest that addressing depression before surgery can improve recovery and lower costs.
The COVID-19 pandemic helped inspire this study because it raised awareness of mental health challenges and how social issues—such as food insecurity or job loss—affect health outcomes. The researchers stress that patients should not ignore their mental health, especially before undergoing surgery.
Taking care of mental health can help them take an active role in their recovery and put them in the best position to heal. In reviewing and analyzing these findings, it is clear that mental health plays a crucial role in surgical outcomes.
Patients with depression face higher risks and costs, but antidepressant treatment can help close the gap. These results point to the need for hospitals to screen for depression and offer support before surgery. This approach may not only improve recovery but also reduce healthcare costs overall.
If you care about mental health, please read studies about Middle-aged women with no kids may have this mental issue and findings of scientists find a cause of mental illnesses induced by childhood abuse.
For more health information, please read studies that one sleepless night can reverse depression for days and scientists find better treatment for older adults with depression.
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