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Suicidality in Patients with Brain Tumors: A Brief Literature Review with Clinical Exemplar

Published inMedicina, vol. 56, no. 12, 725
Publication date2020-12-21
First online date2020-12-21
Abstract

Background: Suicidality and brain tumors are two life-threatening conditions and, somewhat unexpectedly, the associations between them have scarcely been reported. Objective: In this study, we aimed to provide a brief literature review of epidemiological studies on suicidal ideation (SI) and suicidal behavior (SB) in patients with brain tumors. To illustrate various aspects of brain tumors that potentially underlie the emergence of suicidality, the review is supplemented with a clinical exemplar of a long-term survivor of brain tumor (glioblastoma) who experienced persistent SI. Furthermore, we discuss putative both neurobiological (including anatomical and immunological) and psychosocial mechanisms that might be accountable for the development of SI and SB in patients with brain tumors. Conclusions: While the etiology of this phenomenon appears to be multifactorial and still remains a subject of much debate, it is of critical importance to identify patients for which a psychiatric evaluation could recognize, in a timely manner, a possible suicide risk and alleviate the deep related suffering, by appropriate psychopharmacological and supportive and psychotherapeutic interventions.

Keywords
  • Brain tumor
  • Demoralization
  • Glioblastoma
  • Glioma
  • Meaning in life
  • Suicidal behavior
  • Suicidal ideation
  • Suicide
  • Suicide attempt
Citation (ISO format)
COSTANZA, Alessandra et al. Suicidality in Patients with Brain Tumors: A Brief Literature Review with Clinical Exemplar. In: Medicina, 2020, vol. 56, n° 12, p. 725. doi: 10.3390/medicina56120725
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Additional URL for this publicationhttps://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/56/12/725
Journal ISSN1010-660X
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176downloads

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