Correlates of suicide ideation in a population-based sample of cancer patients.

National studies on suicide ideation in cancer patients are small in size, including only patients from select medical centers. Our purpose was to determine correlates of suicide ideation in a population-based sample of cancer patients. Data from the sixth National Mortality Followback Survey were analyzed using SAS and SUDAAN for 980 individuals with cancer present at time of death. Multiple logistic regression analyses included sociodemographics, health-related factors, and social support variables. Prevalence of suicide ideation was 17.7%. Suicidality was significantly more likely in cancer patients who were previously married, had a history of mental illness, died of lung, respiratory or oral cancer, had one or more chronic diseases and used multiple prescription drugs in the past year. Suicide ideation in cancer patients is not solely a manifestation of depression. Overall poor physical health influences patients' desires for hastened death.