Citation

Thibault JM, O'Brien JG, Turner LC. J. Elder Abuse Negl. 2000; 11(2): 21-32.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1300/J084v11n02_02

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Older adults frequently engage in such indirect life-threatening behaviors as extreme lack of self-care, refusal to eat, refusal to take medications, and failure to comply with an understood medical regimen. These behaviors are often classified as non-compliance or passive suicide. Analysis of such phenomena reveals that these actions can represent attempts by the person to gain control of and to ameliorate a negative life situation. A case is presented which demonstrates the ultimate outcome of engagement in such behavior when it is misinterpreted and left untreated. The functions of indirect life-threatening behavior are discussed. © 1999, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Language: en

Keywords

Non-compliance; Passive suicide; Personal control; Self-neglect