Citation

De La Serna De Pedro I. Geriatrika 1998; 14(1): 33-38.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

A study is carried out on all patients 65 years or over with suicide attempt, seen in the Psychiatric Unit in "Ramon y Cajal" Hospital, Madrid, over the course of four years. These represented 28.1 per cent of all elderly people. Sociodemographic data were analysed: age, sex, civil status, socioeconomic level; psychiatric history, concomitant physical illness; previous suicidal attempt; psychiatric diagnoses; treatment and results. Mean age was 73 years. 63.4% of the patients were women. Significant physical illness was present in 65.85% of the patients; 31.7% of the patients had at least one previous suicide attempt. 70.71% suffered from an affective disorder, and 9.75% from a delusional disorder. The most common method was drug overdose (73.17%) and ingestion of caustic substances and detergents in 12,2%.

Language: es

Keywords

Elderly; Method; Suicide; Suicide attempt