Citation

Winsloev JH. Psychiatr. Danub. 2006; 18(Suppl 1): 69.

Affiliation

Center for Geropsychology, University of Aarhus, Skovagervej 2, 8240, Risskov, Denmark. jhw@psykiatri.aaa.dk.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Facultas Universitatis Studiorum Zagrabiensis - Danube Symposion of Psychiatry)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

16963970

Abstract

Conditions and life-events such as loss of partner, disabling illnesses and affective disorders are well-documented risk factors for suicide in old age. However it remains unclear why some individuals who experience adverse life events and/or suffer from depression become suicidal whereas others do not. The purpose of this study is to examine the interplay between risk-increasing adversities and the availability/use of psychological, social and public resources. Two groups of elderly were compared. Group A: 16 subjects who have attempted suicide (age range 71-87). Group B: 16 subjects without a psychiatric history (age range 71-86). Data were obtained on life events, and on mental and somatic health status. For selected subjects from both groups, data were obtained on life-history and life in old age through semi-structured interviews. These subjects were followed over one year. The theoretical frame of reference is the coping-perspective, focusing on stress-increasing vs. stress-reducing processes and the availability of resources. Preliminary analysis shows the following variations/themes in the suicidal trajectories: 1. the lifelong development of resources has been sparse and made the elderly vulnerable. 2. a coincidence of adversities exceeds the subject's resource-pool. 3. the society's production of sufferings have made the adversity unbearable.

Language: en