The role of physical and psychological symptoms in desire for death: a study of terminally ill cancer patients

Abstract

The current study assessed the attitudes of the desire for hastened death in terminally ill cancer patients and whether these are determined by their physical and psychological symptoms. The final sample consisted of 106 terminally ill cancer patients attending a Palliative Care Unit, in University of Athens, Greece, between June and October 2004. Significant associations were found between the desire for hastened death (D.H.D.) and 'pain' (r=0.469, p<0.005), 'fatigue' (r=0.591, p<0.0005), 'loss of appetite' (r=0.622, p<0.0005) and 'feeling sad' (r=0.635, p<0.0005). Statistically significant associations were also found between Schedule of Attitudes towards Hastened Death (SAHD) scores, age (r=0.300, p=0.002) and ECOG (p<0.0005). Twenty-six percent of the patients reported high D.H.D. while 41% reported moderate desire. In the prediction of SHAD the contribution of 'pain' (p=0.011), 'lack of appetite' (p=0.012) and 'sadness' (p=0.011) is high (42% of variance). Further findings suggest that D.H.D. is significantly related to 'feeling sad', 'lack of appetite', 'pain' and 'fatigue' after controlling for age, gender and performance status according to ECOG in terminally ill cancer patients.

Depression, Hopelessness, and Sleep in Cancer Patients' Desire for Death

“…Likewise, gender did not seem to influence the DHD, consistent with our previous study [19]. From demographic and clinical characteristics, only ECOG was significantly associated with patients' DHD (p = 0.003); G-SAHD scores were significantly higher in patients with moderate and poor performance status compared with those with good performance status similar to previous findings [19].…”

Personality Factors Associated With Psychological Distress in Testicular Cancer Survivors

“…To the best of our knowledge, no study to date has focused on TCSs personality parameters that could be associated with psychological distress using the MMPI. In addition, although the role of anxiety and depression in Greek cancer patients in relation to other parameters, such as pain severity, pain interference, patients' desire to die, or patients' quality of life, has been addressed (Mystakidou, Parpa, Katsouda, Galanos, & Vlahos, 2006), no studies have focused on psychological parameters in Greek TCSs.…”

Risk and Predictors of Suicide in Colorectal Cancer Patients: A Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Analysis

“…A diagnosis of cancer has been associated with an increased risk of suicidal ideation or attempts [3][4][5][6] , and suicide is one of the leading causes of non-cancer-related mortality 7 . In recent years, significant advances in the treatment of cancer have led to increased awareness about survivorship issues and the significant psychosocial burden experienced by cancer patients [1][2][3]6 .…”