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Risk of Suicide After Cancer Diagnosis in England
Katherine E Henson1, Rachael Brock2, James Charnock1
1National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service, Public Health England, Wellington House, London, United Kingdom.
JAMA Psychiatry
|November 27, 2018
Summary
Cancer patients face an elevated suicide risk, particularly within six months of diagnosis. Mesothelioma, pancreatic, and lung cancers show the highest risks, highlighting a need for enhanced psychological support.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Psychiatry
- Public Health
Background:
- Cancer diagnosis is associated with significant psychological distress.
- Previous national population-based studies on suicide risk post-cancer diagnosis in England are lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify suicide risk among cancer patients in England.
- To identify risk factors for psychological assessment needs.
Main Methods:
- Population-based study utilizing data from the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service linked to death certification.
- Inclusion of 4,722,099 individuals diagnosed with cancer (excluding nonmelanoma skin cancer) between 1995 and 2015.
- Analysis of suicide verdicts and calculation of standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) and absolute excess risks (AERs).
Main Results:
- The overall suicide risk for cancer patients was elevated (SMR=1.20).
- Highest risks observed for mesothelioma (4.51-fold), pancreatic (3.89-fold), and lung (2.57-fold) cancers.
- Suicide risk peaked in the first six months post-diagnosis (SMR=2.74).
Conclusions:
- Elevated suicide risk in certain cancer patients, though numerically low, indicates potentially preventable deaths.
- Increased risk early after diagnosis suggests unmet psychological support needs.
- Recommendations include enhanced psychological support for all cancer patients and addressing modifiable factors like pain.
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