Advertisement
Journal of Clinical Oncology  
Search for:
Limit by:
  Browse by Subject or Issue
Home Search or Browse JCO Subscriptions PDA Services My JCO Customer Service

Journal of Clinical Oncology, Vol 24, No 24 (August 20), 2006: pp. 3852-3857
© 2006 American Society of Clinical Oncology.
DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2006.06.5409

This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Purchase Article
Right arrow View Shopping Cart
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a colleague
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Save to my personal folders
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Recklitis, C. J.
Right arrow Articles by Diller, L. R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Recklitis, C. J.
Right arrow Articles by Diller, L. R.
Related Articles
Right arrowRelated Correspondence

Suicidal Ideation and Attempts in Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer

Christopher J. Recklitis, Rebecca A. Lockwood, Monica A. Rothwell, Lisa R. Diller

From the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Harvard Medical School; and Suffolk University, Boston, MA

Address reprint requests to Christopher J. Recklitis, PhD, MPH, Perini Family Survivors' Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney St, SW320B, Boston, MA 02115-6084; e-mail: christopher_recklitis{at}dfci.harvard.edu

PURPOSE: This study examined the prevalence of suicidal ideation and past suicide attempt in adult survivors of childhood cancer and investigated the relationship of suicidal symptoms to cancer treatment and current health. The hypothesis that poor physical health would be significantly associated with suicidality after adjusting for mental health variables was specifically tested.

METHODS: Two hundred twenty-six adult survivors of childhood cancer (mean age, 28 years) seen in a survivor clinic completed the Short Form-36 and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), as well as suicide items from the Symptom Checklist-90 Revised, and Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation. Participants reporting current suicide ideation or any past suicide attempt were classified as suicidal.

RESULTS: Twenty-nine participants (12.83%) reported suicidality, although only 11 of these were significantly depressed by BDI criteria. Univariate analyses found suicidality unrelated to age or sex but positively associated with younger age at diagnosis, longer time since diagnosis, cranial radiation treatment, leukemia diagnosis, depression, hopelessness, pain, and physical appearance concern. A hierarchical logistic regression showed that current physical functioning, including pain, was significantly associated with suicidality even after adjusting for treatment and depression variables.

CONCLUSION: Suicidal symptoms, which are reported by a significant minority of adult survivors of childhood cancer, are related to cancer treatments and post-treatment mental and physical health. Association of suicidal symptoms with physical health problems is important because these represent treatable conditions for which survivors may seek follow-up care. The relationship of physical well-being to suicidality underscores the need for a multidisciplinary approach to survivor care.

Supported by a Survivorship Research Grant from the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

Presented at the 2nd Annual Conference of the American Psychosocial Oncology Society, Phoenix, AZ, January 27-29, 2005.

Authors' disclosures of potential conflicts of interest and author contributions are found at the end of this article.


Related Correspondence

  • Suicide After Childhood Cancer
    Regan A. Howard, Peter D. Inskip, and Lois B. Travis
    JCO 2007 25: 731 [Full Text]
  • Suicide Among Survivors of Childhood Cancer
    Mike M. Hawkins, Ann C. Mertens, Torgil R. Möller, and Stanislaw Garwicz
    JCO 2007 25: 731-732 [Full Text]
  • Suicide Risk in Childhood Cancer Survivors
    Brad J. Zebrack, Kathleen Ell, and Wendy B. Smith
    JCO 2007 25: 732-733 [Full Text]


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
JAMAHome page
L. C. M. Kremer, M. C. Cardous-Ubbink, M. M. Geenen, F. E. van Leeuwen, and H. N. Caron
Health Outcomes in Long-term Survivors of Childhood Cancer Reply
JAMA, October 10, 2007; 298(14): 1635 - 1636.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Pediatr PsycholHome page
C. Eiser
Beyond Survival: Quality of Life and Follow-up After Childhood Cancer
J. Pediatr. Psychol., October 1, 2007; 32(9): 1140 - 1150.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
PediatricsHome page
J. D. Dickerman
The Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Therapy
Pediatrics, March 1, 2007; 119(3): 554 - 568.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
JCOHome page
R. A. Howard, P. D. Inskip, and L. B. Travis
Suicide After Childhood Cancer
J. Clin. Oncol., February 20, 2007; 25(6): 731 - 731.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
JCOHome page
B. J. Zebrack, K. Ell, and W. B. Smith
Suicide Risk in Childhood Cancer Survivors
J. Clin. Oncol., February 20, 2007; 25(6): 732 - 733.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
JCOHome page
C. J. Recklitis, M. A. Rothwell, L. R. Diller, and R. A. Lockwood
In Reply
J. Clin. Oncol., February 20, 2007; 25(6): 733 - 734.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
JCOHome page
M. M. Hawkins, A. C. Mertens, T. R. Moller, and S. Garwicz
Suicide Among Survivors of Childhood Cancer
J. Clin. Oncol., February 20, 2007; 25(6): 731 - 732.
[Full Text] [PDF]



About
JCO
 Editorial
Roster
 Advertising
Information
 Librarians &
Institutions
 Rights &
Permissions
 Site Map

Copyright © 2006 by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Online ISSN: 1527-7755. Print ISSN: 0732-183X
Terms and Conditions of Use
  HighWire Press HighWire Press™ assists in the publication of JCO Online