Resource Tag: CHRONIC ILLNESSES

This article is self written case history about a Canadian doctor who was diagnosed with lupus and trigeminal neuralgia. As a result of her illness this doctor required narcotics to control her pain. The author covers the affects of the pain on her life and her need to control it to live a productive life. […]

This case study describes the struggle between a patient’s right to self-determination and the trauma team’s responsibility to treat life threatening conditions.

This presentation provides a historical view on the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) & notes that a literature review did not produce any references to suicide in CFS populations. 2 case summaries are provided as an aid in understanding the physical, psychological, & social impacts of CFS. They raise the question of CFS as a risk […]

This article notes that the overlap of symptoms of many chronic illnesses & disabling conditions with depression may lead to an overestimation of depression in such populations. This study investigated depressive symptom criteria constellations in spinal cord injury, rheumatoid arthritis, student & community groups (total n=502). A 4-factor solution emerged. The 1st factor labelled “dysphoria” […]

217 psoriasis patients completed the Carroll Rating Scale for Depression. 9.7% of patients reported a wish to be dead, & 5.5% reorted active suicidal ideation at the time of the study. The death wish & suicidal ideation were associated with higher depression scores & higher patient self-ratings of psoriasis severity. This study contrasts with other […]

Evidence is provided which shows that depression is an often chronic & recurrent illness. Well-established recommendations for the treatment of depression & maintenance treatments are described. The author briefly reviews problems, including suicide & parasuicide, that are commonly associated with continued antidepressant therapy. Finally, the discontinuation of treatment, which should be accomplished with the patient […]

The authors studied the potential for suicidal behaviour in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. 269 patients with chronic fatigue were evaluated. Of the 86 patients who met criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome, 13 reported attempting suicide at least once, compared to 3 of 86 age & sex matched fatigued controls from the same sample. It […]

The problem of suicide completion among chronic pain patients was investigated. Follow-up data from the authors’ pain centre revealed 3 patients who completed suicide. Statistical analysis revealed that all chronic pain patient suicide rates were significantly greater than suicide rates in the general American population. Although no firm conclusions can be drawn because of the […]

John Walsh hypothesizes that Emily Dickinson committed suicide because of depression caused by a loss in love, the death of her nephew & a sexual scandal involving her brother. The reviewer of his book says, “although Mr. Walsh skillfully reconstructs the dark string of events that marked Dickinson’s final years, he does not convince me […]

The contribution of individual symptoms to the diagnoses of major depressive disorder was examined in 82 patients with rheumatoid arthritis & a control sample of 150 university employees. Cognitive-affective symptoms such as dysphoric mood, acknowledgement of guilt & suicidal ideation were the most efficient predictors of major depression. 16% of the arthritis patients met the […]

41 chronically ill low-back pain patients were submitted to thematic apperception testing. The tape-recorded protocols were evaluated by 2 independent clinicians who judged almost all the patients as depressive. Others were also judged to have deep oral problems with suicidal tendencies. Results showed that one of the main characteristics of low-back pain patients is the […]

This article summarizes a literary search of research linking physical illness & suicide. The author includes sections medical, neurological & surgical illnesses. He concludes that the evidence linking physical disease & suicide is often faulty, and is modest in comparison to the effect of mental disease. He also believes that increases are often caused by […]

This article begins by describing the case of 32-year-old Nancy Cruzan, who is alive, but totally incapacitated & unaware due to an auto accident. Her family is petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court for permission to end her life. The article details similiar cases of chronically or terminally ill people, & outlines American attitudes toward mercy […]

The author of this article is the founder of The Right to Die Society of Canada. He began the organization after a friend, film director Claude Jutra, committed suicide by jumping off a bridge. Jutra was ill, & asked for assistance with his death, but the author felt he could not help. He regretted this […]

60 patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) were matched with controls to study the prevalence, clinical features & diagnostic associations of CFS & to assess the usefulness of a psychiatric interview to detect previously unrecognized psychiatric morbidity. A trend toward suicidal behaviour was noted in CFS patients. It was also found that psychiatric disorders often […]

Presents a thoughtful & reasoned discussion as to whether physicians should be able to assist the suicide of a hopelessly ill patient. The author suggests that this compromises the physician’s essential role as a healer & asserts that more thought is needed before physicians become involved.

In a study of depression in patients with end-stage renal disease, findings included a 17.7% prevalence of minor depression & a 6.5% prevalence of major depression in 124 patients treated with hemodialysis. Vegetative symptoms were less useful for discriminating depressive patients than were the psychological symptoms of suicidal ideation, depressed mood, & discouragement. (20 ref)

This chawpter reviews daily life stresses, self-destructive behaviors, & suicide among hemodialysis patients. Attempted & completed suicide occur at a much greater rate in the dialysis population. The debate as to what constitutes suicidal behavior in dialysis patients is discussed & management considerations are presented. (CM)

This study assessed whether attitudes toward suicide vary as a function of the type of illness that precipitates the suicide. College students were given a questionnaire including evaluative questions about several scenarios of a man who has decided to kill himself. Evaluations of the suicide were most favorable when it occurred in response to physical […]

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The authors present the many reasons why supportive psychotherapy should be made available to renal transplant patients. Areas causing anxiety to transplant patients are stated as: conflict regarding the expense of such treatment; guilt toward the donor; disturbed body image; fear of organ rejection; change in social relationships; & the prospect of leading a normal […]

Awareness of suicide risk factors, such as depression, substance abuse & schizophrenia, may facilitate prevention. Direct questioning reveals suicidal vulnerability. Psychiatric consultation is indicated for clear self-injury risks. Hospitalization is usually recommended for the socially isolated presenting with overt suicidal ideation, with complications. Family involvement, a no suicide contract & outpatient follow-up may suffice for […]