A Selective Review of Suicide Risk and Demoralization Syndrome in Oncological Patients

Abstract

Background: A chronic or debilitating disease is a risk factor for suicide. Thus, the diagnosis of an oncological disease may be associated with an increased risk of suicide, in so far that it constitutes an important stressor, causing physical and psychological suffering.

Aims and Methods: A classic review of literature was carried out with a search of medical databases such as Pubmed, National Guideline of Clearinghouse, The Cochrane Library, World Health Organization, literary works of clinical relevance of the specialty and bibliographical references, as well as a detailed consultation of the clinical process of a patient.

Results and Conclusions: The demoralization syndrome is defined as a cluster of symptoms referred to as feelings of impotence, lack of hope, isolation and despair in which the patient considers himself helpless and beyond any help, failing either internal or external strategies of adaptation to environmental disturbances, and is often associated with an expressed will to die, thus being considered by some authors as the greatest predictive factor for the presence of suicidal ideation.