In a large cohort study of veterans with prostate cancer (PC) who received androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) with definite radiation therapy (RT), researchers observed an increase in the risk of depression and the use of outpatient psychiatric services. The retrospective, observational cohort study included 39,965 veterans with PC who were treated with definite RT and diagnosed by the US Department of Veterans Affairs health care system between January 1, 2001, and October 31, 2015. Exposure was ADT initiation within 1 year of PC diagnosis. The primary outcome was new development of depression. Among the findings:

• 934 patients were newly diagnosed with depression during follow-up, 7,825 used outpatient services, 358 used inpatient psychiatric services, and 54 committed suicide.
• ADT was associated with the development of depression and with outpatient psychiatric utilization.
• ADT was not associated with inpatient psychiatric utilization or suicide.