Why Do Some Cancer Patients With Depression Desire an Early Death and Others Do Not?
Abstract
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.
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The prevalence of suicidal ideation in this study was similar to that of an earlier work on cancer patients with major depression referred to a psychiatry service (51.4%).
“Our finding was similar to that of an earlier work on cancer patients with major depression referred to a psychiatry service, 51.4%.5”
From Prevalence and Correlates of Suicidal Ideation among Psycho-Oncology Outpatients (2024) · cites this paper as [5]
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- Authors
- Akechi, T., Okamura, H., Yamawaki, S., & Uchitomi, Y.
- Affiliations
- Hiroshima University (JP)
- Corresponding author
- Akechi, Tatsuo
- Venue
- Psychosomatics
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2001-03
- Volume
- 42
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 141-145
- ISSN
- 0033-3182 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2095225953
- Cited by
- 61
- References
- 19
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2019: 3 · 2017: 4 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 7.14
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychosomatics (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Palliative and Oncologic Care
- Keywords
- cancer patients, major depressive disorder, suicidal ideation, suicide risk factors, physical function, depression severity, psychiatric referral
- MeSH terms
- Suicide Prevention, Adaptation, Psychological, Attitude to Death, Major Depressive Disorder, Depressive Disorder, Major, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Neoplasms, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Severity of Illness Index, Social Adjustment, Prevalence
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