Citation

Eisenwort B, Heinrich M, Schuster A, Willinger U, Berzlanovich A. Rechtsmedizin 2007; 17(6): 359-362.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s00194-007-0472-9

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

International trends show that the suicide rate clearly increases after 65 years old and in Austria suicides of the elderly account for approximately one third of all suicides. The aim of this study was to evaluate all suicides which occurred over a 3-year period where a post-mortem examination was carried out in Vienna with respect to suicide notes. Out of 454 suicides, 152 subjects were aged 65 years old or more and 302 were younger than 65. Both age groups were compared with respect to demographic factors, motive, methods and psychiatric disorders. Furthermore, the contents of 25 suicide notes were analyzed. Physical illness, psychopathological factors and care and the use of violent methods were characteristic of the elderly suicide victims. The main theme of suicide notes of the elderly was instructions concerning inheritance of their estate. © 2007 Springer Medizin Verlag.

Language: de

Keywords

human; violence; suicide; Suicide; female; male; Austria; Methods; aged; autopsy; article; major clinical study; mental disease; elderly care; physical disease; groups by age; demography; Motives; Suicide notes; 65 years old