Citation

Osváth P, Fekete S, Vörös V. Psychiatr. Danub. 2002; 14(1-2): 3-8.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, Facultas Universitatis Studiorum Zagrabiensis - Danube Symposion of Psychiatry)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The authors examined the characteristics of old age suicide attempters (65 years and over) with special regard to organic and depressive disorders as well as sociodemographic factors.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Within the framework of the WHO/EURO Multicentre Study of Suicidal Behaviour data of 1158 suicide attempts were collected and comparing old age group (N=78) to younger suicide attempters (N=1080).

RESULTS: In the sample the old age attempters were characterised by a much higher rate of female attempters, hard methods (especially among old male), lower rate of repeaters, and higher proportion of depressive and organic disorders.

CONCLUSION: Authors pointed out, that the recognition and treatment of depression plays a very important role in suicide prevention in the elderly population, and adequate emotional and psychosocial support by family and health care systems seems to be essential.

Language: en

Keywords

age; aged; article; controlled study; demography; depression; Depression; Elderly population; emotional stability; family; female; health care system; human; major clinical study; male; methodology; multicenter study; Multicentre study; organic brain syndrome; psychosocial care; sex difference; suicidal behavior; Suicidal behaviour; suicide; suicide attempt; Suicide prevention; world health organization