Suicide rates in the United States continue to rise. Are rates in Brazil underestimated?

Risk factors for suicide in individuals with cancer: an integrative literature review

OBJECTIVE

to develop an integrative literature review on risk factors for suicide in individuals with cancer.

METHOD

searching for articles was conducted in the Scientific Electronic Library Online, Medicinal Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, Latin American & Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature and SciVerse Scopus databases, using the descriptors "suicide" and "cancer".

RESULTS

eighteen articles were selected. Lung, bladder and colorectal cancers are the types of highest risk for suicide. Male, white and over 60 years of age are demographic factors with higher risk for suicide in individuals with cancer.

CONCLUSION

this review made it possible to verify that cancer may be a risk factor for suicide. This evidence can be useful for planning preventive actions in order to reduce the risk of suicide.

Prevalence of mental disorders among elderly men: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Elderly men have been characterized as a group vulnerable to suicide, motivated by loneliness, loss of loved ones and feelings of uselessness to family members.

OBJECTIVES

To ascertain the prevalence of different mental disorders among elderly men who attempted suicide.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Systematic review of observational studies developed as a result of a partnership between two postgraduate schools (Lagarto and Uberlândia).

METHODS

An electronic search was performed in eight electronic databases, including "grey literature", in January 2019. Observational studies that assessed mental disorders among men older than 60 years who attempted suicide were eligible for inclusion.

RESULTS

Among the disorders evaluated, mood disorders had the highest prevalence (42.0%; 95% confidence interval, CI: 31.0-74.0%; I2: 0.0%; P = 0.763), followed by substance use-related disorders (41.0%; 95% CI: 8.0-74.0%; I2: 96.4; P < 0.001) and, lastly, schizophrenic disorders (5.0%; 95% CI: 0.0%-14.0%; I2: 80.3%; P = 0.024).

CONCLUSIONS

It seems that mood disorders and substance use-related disorders are quite prevalent among elderly men with mental disorders who attempted suicide. It is important to consider the role of healthcare services in making early diagnoses of mental disorders among elderly men, in order to diminish the chances of suicide attempts among them.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

CRD42018105981.