Mental health and suicidality in glioblastoma patients in germany - a multicenter cross-sectional observational study protocol (SHINE-GLIO Study).

INTRODUCTION

Glioblastoma is an aggressive primary brain tumor with poor survival. Depressive and anxiety symptoms and suicidality are common and impair quality of life and care. Prospective multicenter data using validated measures of suicidal ideation and behavior in German glioblastoma cohorts are scarce. We aim to quantify psychiatric symptom burden and suicidality and examine associations with demographic, clinical, and tumor-related characteristics.

METHODS

SHINE-GLIO is a multicenter, cross-sectional observational study at German neuro-oncology centers. Adults with newly diagnosed isocitrate dehydrogenase wild-type glioblastoma after primary radiotherapy and before first recurrence are eligible. Exclusion criteria include clinically significant aphasia, other malignancies, and known tumor predisposition syndromes. At one outpatient visit, participants undergo physical examination and complete validated self-report questionnaires assessing suicidality (SSEV), depressive symptoms (PHQ-8), anxiety (GAD-7), social support (SUCE-4), and quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BN20). Tumor characteristics, clinical history, and concomitant medications are extracted from medical records. Prespecified regression models will examine associations with suicidality while accounting for demographic, clinical, and tumor-related factors.

PERSPECTIVE: This study will provide a standardized multicenter assessment of suicidality and related psychiatric symptoms in German patients with glioblastoma. The findings may inform screening and referral pathways for mental health care.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT07409584. First posted prospectively on February 12, 2026.