title: Cancer and suicide.
abstract: Issues of suicidal ideation, life-threatening behavior, and vulnerability in cancer patients are addressed. A review of pertinent literature is presented, including the areas of: suicide as a taboo topic; incidence of suicide in cancer patients; identifying patients' suicide potential; and suicide as coping behavior. Case examples are offered that illustrate psychiatric intervention with and psychodynamics of cancer patients demonstrating suicidal tendencies.
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000275:Adjustment Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology; D013609:Taboo