Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Email this article to a Colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Articles & Searches Download to citation manager Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Articles by Akechi, T. Articles by Uchitomi, Y. Search for Related Content PubMed Citation Articles by Akechi, T. Articles by Uchitomi, Y. Depression

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

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E. Hem, J. H. Loge, T. Haldorsen, and O. Ekeberg Suicide Risk in Cancer Patients From 1960 to 1999 J. Clin. Oncol., October 15, 2004; 22(20): 4209 - 4216. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. J. Kelly, P. C. Burnett, D. Pelusi, S. J. Badger, F. T. Varghese, and M. M. Robertson Association Between Clinician Factors and a Patient's Wish to Hasten Death: Terminally Ill Cancer Patients and Their Doctors Psychosomatics, August 1, 2004; 45(4): 311 - 318. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Akechi, T. Nakano, N. Akizuki, T. Nakanishi, E. Yoshikawa, H. Okamura, and Y. Uchitomi Clinical Factors Associated with Suicidality in Cancer Patients Jpn. J. Clin. Oncol., December 1, 2002; 32(12): 506 - 511. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B Kelly, P Burnett, D Pelusi, S Badger, F Varghese, and M Robertson Terminally ill cancer patients' wish to hasten death Palliative Medicine, June 1, 2002; 16(4): 339 - 345. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. Agrawal and E. J. Emanuel Attending to Psychologic Symptoms and Palliative Care J. Clin. Oncol., February 1, 2002; 20(3): 624 - 626. [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Myslobodsky, F. M. Lalonde, and L. Hicks Are Patients with Parkinson's Disease Suicidal? J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol, September 1, 2001; 14(3): 120 - 124. [Abstract] [PDF]

Get information about faster international access.

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2001 Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine. All rights reserved.

Home | Search | Current Issue | Past Issues | Subscribe | All APPI Journals | Help | Contact Us