OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at investigating the risk of Colorectal Cancer (CRC) among depressed and Negative Life Events (NLEs) people and the prevalence of depressive symptoms.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A case-control study was performed from the Colonoscopy Unit of the Cancer Institute in Tabriz. A total of 207 cases with confirmed pathology findings and 207 controls, at the same time for the cases, were included. Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate the adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS: In the final multiple variable models, depression was associated with CRC insignificantly (OR=1.42, 95% CI: 0.92–2.21); however, NLEs were associated with CRC risk (OR=1.84, 95% CI: 1.08–3.16). Likewise, family history of CRC, diabetes, and smoking were associated with an elevated risk of CRC. Moreover, the prevalence rate (%) of depressive symptoms among cases and controls was revealed as 11-8 severe, 19-14 moderate, 27-24 mild and 43-54 minimal, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant positive association between CRC and NLEs while no evidence found that depression increases the risk of CRC.