Interventions to prevent suicidal behavior and ideation for patients with cancer: A systematic review

Yoshitaka Kawashima; Naohiro Yonemoto; Masatoshi Inagaki; Keisuke Inoue; Chiaki Kawanishi; Mitsuhiko Yamada

doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2019.07.003

Interventions to prevent suicidal behavior and ideation for patients with cancer: A systematic review

Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2019 Sep-Oct:60:98-110. doi: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2019.07.003. Epub 2019 Jul 11.

Authors

Yoshitaka Kawashima¹, Naohiro Yonemoto², Masatoshi Inagaki³, Keisuke Inoue⁴, Chiaki Kawanishi⁵, Mitsuhiko Yamada⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neuropsychopharmacology, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1, Ogawahigashimachi, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8553, Japan; Clinical Psychology Course, Department of Psycho-Social Studies, School of Arts and Letters, Meiji University, 1-1, Kanda-Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-8301, Japan. Electronic address: kawashima@ncnp.go.jp.
² Department of Neuropsychopharmacology, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1, Ogawahigashimachi, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8553, Japan; Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Kyoto University, Yoshida Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
³ Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, 89-1, Enyacho, Izumo City, Shimane 693-8501, Japan. Electronic address: minagaki@med.shimane-u.ac.jp.
⁴ Psychiatric Center, Yokohama City University Medical Center, 4-57, Urafune-cho, Minami-ku, Yokohama 232-0024, Japan. Electronic address: kinoue@yokohama-cu.ac.jp.
⁵ Department of Neuropsychiatry, Sapporo Medical University Graduate School of Medicine, S1 W17, Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-8556, Japan.
⁶ Department of Neuropsychopharmacology, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1, Ogawahigashimachi, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8553, Japan. Electronic address: mitsuhiko_yamada@ncnp.go.jp.

PMID: 31377631
DOI: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2019.07.003

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to summarize interventions for suicide prevention in patients with cancer and highlight any methodological issues.

Methods: We searched PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and the Cochrane database from their inception until July 2018. Additionally, we manually searched the references of included studies and recent systematic reviews of psychotherapy, antidepressants, and collaborative care for cancer patients with depression.

Results: Of the 1365 retrieved articles, 11 randomized controlled trials and 11 intervention studies met the inclusion criteria. These were categorized by type of intervention: psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, integrated collaborative care, muscle relaxation and therapeutic walking, and cancer treatment. The trials showed little evidence to confirm the effects of suicide prevention strategies. Seven trials were designed to assess the efficacy of interventions treating depression. In all studies, suicidal behavior or ideation was reported as one of the secondary outcomes. Three trials did not report information about suicidal ideation, despite assessing depressive symptoms using scales that contained suicidal ideation items. Most trials demonstrated inadequate study quality.

Conclusions: Our review summarized interventions for suicide prevention in patients with cancer and revealed methodological issues. The findings highlighted a need to explore new treatment strategies that focus on unique suicide risk factors among patients with cancer.

Keywords: Cancer; Intervention; Oncology; Self-harm; Suicide; Systematic review.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Delivery of Health Care, Integrated*
Drug Therapy*
Exercise Therapy*
Humans
Mental Disorders / drug therapy
Mental Disorders / etiology
Mental Disorders / prevention & control
Mental Disorders / therapy*
Neoplasms / complications
Neoplasms / psychology*
Psychotherapy*
Suicidal Ideation*
Suicide, Attempted / prevention & control*