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A Descriptive Cohort of Suicidal Cancer Patients: Analysis of the Autopsy Case Series from 1993 to 2019 in Milan (Italy)

Author

Listed:
  • Guendalina Gentile

    (Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Section of Legal Medicine and Insurance, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Stefano Tambuzzi

    (Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Section of Legal Medicine and Insurance, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Raffaella Calati

    (Department of Psychology, University of Milan-Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy
    Department of Adult Psychiatry, Nimes University Hospital, 30029 Nimes, France)

  • Riccardo Zoja

    (Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Section of Legal Medicine and Insurance, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy)

Abstract

Suicide in cancer patients has always been a subject of clinical studies, but the contribution of forensic pathology to this phenomenon is poorly reported. With the aim of at least partially filling this gap in information, at the Institute of Forensic Medicine of Milan, Italy, we assessed all suicides that occurred in cancer patients. A descriptive and retrospective analysis was carried out by examining the database of the Institute and autopsy reports. We included 288 suicide cases with proven cancer diseases. For each suicide, sex, age, country of origin, body area affected by cancer, further pathological history, medications, previous suicide attempts and suicidal communications, as well as the place where the suicide occurred, were assessed. Furthermore, from a forensic point of view, we considered the chosen suicide method and any involved means. The majority of cases were male older adults affected by lung, colon and prostate cancer. Violent suicide methods were prevalent, and the most represented suicide method was falling from height regardless of the body area affected by cancer. Such data may be of clinical use for clinicians engaged in the front lines in order to address suicide risk prevention strategies among cancer patients.

Suggested Citation

  • Guendalina Gentile & Stefano Tambuzzi & Raffaella Calati & Riccardo Zoja, 2022. "A Descriptive Cohort of Suicidal Cancer Patients: Analysis of the Autopsy Case Series from 1993 to 2019 in Milan (Italy)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-14, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:2:p:829-:d:723258
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nicholas G. Zaorsky & Ying Zhang & Leonard Tuanquin & Shirley M. Bluethmann & Henry S. Park & Vernon M. Chinchilli, 2019. "Suicide among cancer patients," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-7, December.
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