[Depression and suicidal behavior of cancer inpatients: prevalence and associated factors].
OBJECTIVE
To determine prevalence rates of depression and suicidal behavior among cancer inpatients and factors associated with these conditions.


METHODS
A total of 5357 patients consecutively admitted to a university hospital were assessed by means of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) and the suicide risk section of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Univariate analyses adjusted for gender and age groups were performed with depression and suicide risk as dependent variables.


RESULTS
Of those assessed, 675 had cancer. The prevalence rates for depression and suicide risk were 18.3% (95%CI = 15.4 - 21.4) and 4.7% (95%CI = 3.2 - 6.7) respectively. Depression was more frequently found in cancer bearers than in the other inpatients (13.2%; p = 0.0009). Female gender, low schooling level, long time of disease, pain, use of psychotropic drugs and suicide risk were associated with depression (p < 0.05). Pain and depression were associated with suicide risk.


CONCLUSIONS
Because prevalence rates of depression and suicide risk are high among cancer inpatients, simple screening instruments and specific questions during interviews are needed to detect these clinical conditions.
Fanger
Priscila Caroline
PC
Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Departamento de Psicologia Médica e Psiquiatria, Campinas, SP.
Azevedo
Renata Cruz Soares de
RC
Mauro
Marisa Lúcia Fabrício
ML
Lima
Daniela Dantas
DD
Gaspar
Karla Cristina
KC
Silva
Viviane Franco da
VF
Nascimento
Wagner Tadeu Jurevicius do
WT
Botega
Neury José
NJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult