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Why Do Some Cancer Patients With Depression Desire an Early Death and Others Do Not?

Received April 12, 2000; revised September 7, 2000; accepted October 25, 2000. From Psycho-Oncology Division, National Cancer Center Research Institute East; Psychiatry Division, National Cancer Center Hospital East; Psychiatry Division, National Cancer Center Hospital; and the Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Hiroshima University School of Medicine. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Uchitomi, Psycho-Oncology Division, National Cancer Center Research Institute East, 6-5-1 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, 277-8577, Japan.

Major depression is a well-documented risk factor for suicide in cancer patients as well as in the general population. However, there are no data explaining why some cancer patients suffering from major depression have suicidal ideation, while others do not. The authors investigated the background differences among cancer patients suffering from major depression with and without suicidal ideation by analyzing the consultation data of patients referred to the psychiatry division. Among the 1,721 referred patients, 220 (12.8%) were diagnosed with major depression, and of these 113 (51.4%) had suicidal ideation. Logistic regression analysis indicated that poor physical functioning and severe depression were significant risk factors. These preliminary findings suggest that the severity of major depression and physical functioning are important indicators of suicidal ideation among cancer patients.

Key Words: Depression • Cancer • Suicidal Ideation

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