Cancer, mental disorders, suicidal ideation and attempts in a large community sample.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the association between cancer diagnosis, mental disorders and suicidal behavior among community dwelling adults.


METHODS
Data were drawn from the nationally representative Canadian Community Health Survey Cycle 1.2 (N=36 984, response rate 77%, age 15+). Respondents were grouped into three age groups (15-54, 55-74, and 75+ years), and multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between cancer and mental disorders: unadjusted and adjusted for sociodemographics, social supports and other mental disorders.


RESULTS
Among respondents aged 15-54, cancer was associated with increased odds of major depression (odds ratio [OR]=3.18; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.69-5.96), panic attacks (OR=2.15; 95% CI: 1.22-3.77) and any mental disorder. Among respondents aged 55-75, cancer was associated with increased odds of agoraphobia (OR=5.94; 95% CI: 1.68-21.03) and decreased odds of social phobia (OR=0.22; 95% CI: 0.06-0.80). Cancer was not associated with any mental disorder in the 75+ age group. Results persisted after adjustments for the covariates. Suicidal ideation was associated with cancer in the 55-74 age group (OR=5.07; 95% CI: 1.25-20.47) in unadjusted models; however, this relationship became non-significant when adjusting for the other covariates.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinicians should consider screening for depression and panic disorder in young, community dwelling patients with cancer.
Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Daniel T
DT
Rasic
Shay-Lee
SL
Belik
James M
JM
Bolton
Harvey M
HM
Chochinov
Jitender
J
Sareen
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000379:Agoraphobia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*