Predictive Value of Individual Behavioral Risk Factors for New Mood‐Related Psychiatric Disorder After Diagnosis of Cancer

ABSTRACT Objective The diagnosis of a mood‐related psychiatric disorder (MRPD) among patients with cancer has been associated with decreased quality of life and lower cancer survival. This study aimed to understand the risk of a new MRPD after cancer diagnosis by individual risk behaviors, with a specific focus on tobacco use and the presence of a human papillomavirus (HPV)‐associated cancer. Methods Single‐center retrospective cohort study of 11,712 patients diagnosed with cancer between 2009 and 2020. We identified predictors of a new MRPD after cancer diagnosis using a time‐to‐event analysis and Cox proportional hazards model including demographics, disease characteristics, and tobacco use and HPV‐associated tumors. Results Univariate analyses revealed lower hazard ratios (HRs) of a new MRPD among individuals that identified as Asian/Pacific Islanders and among the older age groups (> 51 years). Univariate analyses additionally demonstrated higher HRs of MRPD among females; sexual minorities; former and current smokers; individuals with HPV‐associated cancers; and individuals diagnosed at later stages. These relationships were observed in the multivariate model when adjusting for covariates. Shorter time‐to‐MRPD was observed when stratifying by individual behavioral risk factors, with active smokers and individuals with an HPV‐associated cancer being at the highest risk. Conclusions Individual behavioral risk factors increase risk of new MRPD after being diagnosed with cancer. These findings build on past studies by linking tobacco use and HPV‐associated cancers with MRPD risk in oncology and can be used to identify patients at risk of developing new MRPDs post‐cancer diagnosis and engaging them in treatment.