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Prevalence and factors associated with desire for death in patients with advanced disease: results from a Portuguese cross-sectional study

dc.contributor.authorJulião, M.
dc.contributor.authorBarbosa, A.
dc.contributor.authorOliveira, F.
dc.contributor.authorNunes, Baltazar
dc.date.accessioned2014-01-31T12:44:19Z
dc.date.available2014-01-31T12:44:19Z
dc.date.issued2013-10
dc.description.abstractBACKGROUND: Desire for death (DFD) within the context of palliative care has become a prominent medical issue and remains the subject of much controversy. METHODS: Cross-sectional study designed to assess the prevalence and associated demographic, physical, psychiatric, and psychosocial factors for DFD in patients with advanced disease. RESULTS: Seventy-five terminally ill patients were included in the analyses in a 28-month period. The prevalence of DFD was 20% (95% CI [11.7-30.8]). No statistical differences were observed between patients with and without DFD with respect to sex, age, race, education, religion, type of family, medical diagnosis, and medication. There were associations between DFD and being married/cohabitating (OR = 4.0; 95% CI [1.21-13.29]) and being socially isolated (OR = 0.3; 95% CI [0.06-0.98]). Significant positive correlations were found between moderate to severe Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) scores and DFD for tiredness (OR = 10.1; 95% CI [1.57 ± inf]) and drowsiness (OR = 6.0; 95% CI [1.77-20.37]). DFD was also correlated with depression (DSM-IV criteria: OR = 5.5; 95% CI [1.56-19.47]; Hospital and Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) depression subscale ≥11: OR = 8.6; 95% CI [1.33 ± inf]). In exact multivariate regression analyses predicting DFD, three independent factors emerged: marital status (OR = 5.3; 95% CI [1.16-29.89]); HADS depression sub-scale score ≥11 (OR = 8.3; 95% CI [1.11 ± inf]); drowsiness (OR = 5.8; 95% CI [1.29-32.85]). DISCUSSION: Prevalence of DFD was high in this sample of patients. Identifying factors associated with DFD could help provide medical and social interventions capable of diminishing suffering in terminal ill patients.por
dc.identifier.citationPsychosomatics. 2013 Sep-Oct;54(5):451-7. doi: 10.1016/j.psym.2013.01.006. Epub 2013 Mar 7por
dc.identifier.issn0033-3182
dc.identifier.otherdoi: 10.1016/j.psym.2013.01.006
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10400.18/1890
dc.language.isoengpor
dc.peerreviewedyespor
dc.publisherElsevier/ Academy of Psychosomatic Medicinepor
dc.relation.publisherversionhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0033318213000078por
dc.subjectDesire for Deathpor
dc.subjectDFDpor
dc.subjectPalliative Carepor
dc.subjectPortugalpor
dc.subjectDeterminantes da Saúde e da Doençapor
dc.titlePrevalence and factors associated with desire for death in patients with advanced disease: results from a Portuguese cross-sectional studypor
dc.typejournal article
dspace.entity.typePublication
oaire.citation.endPage457por
oaire.citation.startPage451por
oaire.citation.titlePsychosomaticspor
oaire.citation.volume54(5)por
rcaap.rightsembargoedAccesspor
rcaap.typearticlepor

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