title: Psychiatric pathology and suicide risk in patients with cancer.
abstract: The aims of the study were to assess sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with suicidal ideation in patients with cancer who required a psycho-oncological support. Among 504 participants, there were 136 (23 men and 113 women) cancer patients who completed psychological assessment when admitted to the Psycho-oncology Outpatient Clinic between 2006 and 2011. Suicidal ideation was assessed by Item 9 of the Brief Symptom Inventory, Hopelessness was assessed by the hopelessness subscale of the Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale, and Depression was assessed by the depression subscale of the Hospital and Anxiety Depression Scale. Around 30% of this sample reported affective symptoms and around 20% reported suicidal ideation and hopelessness. Patients who reported suicidal ideation were more hopeless (18.8 ± 6.7 vs. 15.7 ± 5.2; t(134) = 2.54; p < 0.05) and reported more depression (11.8 ± 4.8 vs. 6.8 ± 4.1; t(134) = 5.30; p < 0.001). It is evident that cancer can result in a strong psychological distress in the patient. It is important, therefore, that cancer patients receive a proper assistance and psychological support and that both the possible presence of depression and suicidal ideation are constantly monitored.
authors.affiliation: a Psycho-Oncology Unit, Sant'Andrea Hospital , Sapienza University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Costantini
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pompili
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Innamorati
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Zezza
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Carlo
authors.forename: Leo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sher
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Girardi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms; D000368:Aged; D003863:Depression; D005260:Female; D065026:Hope; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: cancer; psychiatry; psychoncology; suicide