Aim: To review current knowledge on suicide and suicidal behaviour in selected somatic disorders and pain syndromes.
Materials and methods: Available literature concerning suicide risk and cancer, neurological disorders, heart and lung disorders, bowel disorders. AIDS: Rheumatoid arthritis and pain was found by using Medline.
Results: There are fairly robust studies on the increased risk of suicide in a number of neurological disorders and cancers, while studies in cardiac, lung, rheumatologic disorders and others are fewer and far less robust.
Conclusion: Suicide risk factors i.e. psychiatric disorder, previous suicide attempts, suicidal thoughts have to be considered in patients suffering from somatic disorders, especially disorders involved with an increased suicide risk.