Suicides Among Danish Patients With Cancer: 1971 to 1986

The risk of suicide or other violent death was assessed among 296,331 patients with cancer in Denmark from 1971-986 by linkage between the National Cancer Registry & mortality files. There were 1,637 violent deaths of which 568 were suicides. The relative risk of suicide was significantly increased in the first 2 years after a cancer diagnosis, independent of age at diagnosis. A lower suicide risk was seen after diagnosis of localized cancer. Surprisingly, the risk of suicide has increased significantly in more recent years. (26 refs.)