PURPOSE: Cancer is associated with an increased risk of suicide and attempted suicide. However, we do not know how many cancer patients have thoughts that they would be better off dead or thoughts of hurting themselves. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of such thoughts in cancer outpatients and which patients are most likely to have them. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A survey of consecutive patients who attended the outpatient clinics of a regional cancer center in Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Patients completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), which included Item 9 that asks patients if they have had thoughts of being better off dead or of hurting themselves in some way in the previous 2 weeks. Those who reported having had such thoughts for at least several days in this period were labeled as positive responders. Patients also completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and a pain scale. The participating patients' cancer diagnoses and treatments were obtained from the cancer center clinical database. RESULTS: Data were available on 2,924 patients; 7.8% (229 of 2,924; 95% CI, 6.9% to 8.9%) were positive responders. Clinically significant emotional distress, substantial pain, and--to a lesser extent--older age, were associated with a positive response. There was strong evidence of interactions between these effects, and emotional distress played the most important role. CONCLUSION: A substantial number of cancer outpatients report thoughts that they would be better off dead or thoughts of hurting themselves. Management of emotional distress and pain should be a central aspect of cancer care.
PURPOSE:Cancer is associated with an increased risk of suicide and attempted suicide. However, we do not know how many cancerpatients have thoughts that they would be better off dead or thoughts of hurting themselves. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of such thoughts in cancer outpatients and which patients are most likely to have them. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A survey of consecutive patients who attended the outpatient clinics of a regional cancer center in Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Patients completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), which included Item 9 that asks patients if they have had thoughts of being better off dead or of hurting themselves in some way in the previous 2 weeks. Those who reported having had such thoughts for at least several days in this period were labeled as positive responders. Patients also completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and a pain scale. The participating patients' cancer diagnoses and treatments were obtained from the cancer center clinical database. RESULTS: Data were available on 2,924 patients; 7.8% (229 of 2,924; 95% CI, 6.9% to 8.9%) were positive responders. Clinically significant emotional distress, substantial pain, and--to a lesser extent--older age, were associated with a positive response. There was strong evidence of interactions between these effects, and emotional distress played the most important role. CONCLUSION: A substantial number of cancer outpatients report thoughts that they would be better off dead or thoughts of hurting themselves. Management of emotional distress and pain should be a central aspect of cancer care.
Authors: Kimberly A Van Orden; Tracy K Witte; Kelly C Cukrowicz; Scott R Braithwaite; Edward A Selby; Thomas E Joiner Journal: Psychol Rev Date: 2010-04 Impact factor: 8.934
Authors: Ralph Simanek; Michael Wuensch; Roland Edlinger; Bernhard Hammerl-Ferrari; Ludwig Kramer; Klaus Geissler Journal: Wien Klin Wochenschr Date: 2010-04 Impact factor: 1.704
Authors: Soon-Hyun Ahn; Hyun Jun Hong; Soon Young Kwon; Kee Hwan Kwon; Jong-Lyel Roh; Junsun Ryu; Jun Hee Park; Seung-Kuk Baek; Guk Haeng Lee; Sei Young Lee; Jin Choon Lee; Man Ki Chung; Young Hoon Joo; Yong Bae Ji; Jeong Hun Hah; Minsu Kwon; Young Min Park; Chang Myeon Song; Sung-Chan Shin; Chang Hwan Ryu; Doh Young Lee; Young Chan Lee; Jae Won Chang; Ha Min Jeong; Jae-Keun Cho; Wonjae Cha; Byung Joon Chun; Ik Joon Choi; Hyo Geun Choi; Kang Dae Lee Journal: Clin Exp Otorhinolaryngol Date: 2017-01-03 Impact factor: 3.372
Authors: J Michael Randall; Rochelle Voth; Erin Burnett; Lyudmila Bazhenova; Wayne A Bardwell Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2013-01-17 Impact factor: 3.603