Citation

Sveticic J, Jereb B, Bucik V, Marusic A. Psychiatr. Danub. 2006; 18(Suppl 1): 39-40.

Affiliation

Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia, Trubarjeva 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. (jerneja.sveticic@ivz-rs.si)

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Facultas Universitatis Studiorum Zagrabiensis - Danube Symposion of Psychiatry)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

16963899

Abstract

Background: With improving survival rates for cancer, there is a growing number of survivors with a variety of psychosocial consequences. Objectives: To determine prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms and suicidality among childhood cancer survivors. Method: The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale and Suicidal Ideation and Behaviour Questionnaire were administered to 228 participants, diagnosed with cancer before the age of 16. The control group (N=127) was matched for sex, age and region. Results: Increased number of depressive symptoms was found three times more often in cancer survivors (13%). Higher frequency of depressive symptoms in this group were associated with being female, having lower education, being single or divorced, not attending association group meetings and reporting weaker sociability. The latter was also associated with passive and active suicidal thoughts, and suicidal plans, while the experience of cancer recurrence coincided with attempted suicide in 5 participants. Groups did not differ in frequency of suicidal features, but suicide related variables were in association with having depressive symptoms only in the cases group. Conclusions: Childhood cancer survivors have depressive symptoms more often than their counterparts. Having depressive symptoms represents a specifically greater risk for suicidal behaviour in this population.

Language: en