Suicide and cancer
Stiefel, F.; Volkenandt, M.; Breitbart, W.
Schweizerische Medizinische Wochenschrift 119(25): 891-895
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0036-7672 PMID: 2667128 Document Number: 341775
Epidemiological studies demonstrate that cancer patients are at increased risk of suicide. While affective illness and alcoholism are the most important determinants of suicide in the physically healthy population, vulnerability to suicide in cancer patients is influenced by a number of other factors including psychosocial and psychosomatic effects of advanced illness, pain, organic mental syndromes and preexisting psychopathology. Ways of influencing these risk factors are discussed, together with their use in preventive care and management of suicidal cancer patients.