Cumulative burden of psychiatric disorders and self-harm across 26 adult cancers

Cancer is a life-altering event causing considerable psychological distress. However, information on the total burden of psychiatric disorders across all common adult cancers and therapy exposures has remained scarce. Here, we estimated the risk of self-harm after incident psychiatric disorder diagnosis in patients with cancer and the risk of unnatural deaths after self-harm in 459,542 individuals. Depression was the most common psychiatric disorder in patients with cancer. Patients who received chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery had the highest cumulative burden of psychiatric disorders. Patients treated with alkylating agent chemotherapeutics had the highest burden of psychiatric disorders, whereas those treated with kinase inhibitors had the lowest burden. All mental illnesses were associated with an increased risk of subsequent self-harm, where the highest risk was observed within 12 months of the mental illness diagnosis. Patients who harmed themselves were 6.8 times more likely to die of unnatural causes of death compared with controls within 12 months of self-harm (hazard ratio (HR), 6.8; 95% confidence interval (CI), 4.3-10.7). The risk of unnatural death after 12 months was markedly lower (HR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.5-2.7). We provide an extensive knowledge base to help inform collaborative cancer-psychiatric care initiatives by prioritizing patients who are most at risk. A large-scale population analysis quantifies the burden of mental illness and self-harm events in patients diagnosed with the most common adult cancers and highlights opportunities for advancing patient care.

Automated summary

Cancer patients experience considerable psychological distress, with depression being the most common psychiatric disorder. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery increase the burden of psychiatric disorders, especially alkylating agent chemotherapeutics. All mental illnesses are associated with an increased risk of subsequent self-harm, with the highest risk occurring within 12 months of diagnosis. Patients who harm themselves are at a significantly higher risk of dying from unnatural causes within the first 12 months.