@article{ref1,
title="Physical illness burden in elderly suicide attempters",
journal="Psychiatria Danubina",
year="2006",
author="Wiktorsson, Stefan and Waern, Margda",
volume="18",
number="Suppl 1",
pages="67-67",
abstract="Aims: There is some evidence that serious physical illness is a stronger predictor of suicide in men than in women. The aim was to examine physical health in elderly suicide attempters and to test for gender differences. Methods: Suicide attempters aged 70+ (n=88, mean age 80 (range 70-91), 47 women and 41 men) at hospitals in western Sweden took part in an interview. Physical illness burden was rated with the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale for Geriatrics (CIRS-G). A person was considered to have a serious physical condition if a score of 3 or 4 was noted in any organ category. High overall physical illness burden was defined as a CIRS-G sum >10. Results: While there was no significant difference in proportions with serious physical illness (63% of the men and 60% of the women), mean total illness burden was significantly greater in men (10.5 vs. 8.7 in women). Almost half of the men (46%) had a high overall illness burden. This was significantly higher than the proportion in women (26%). Conclusions: Physical illness is prevalent in elderly suicide attempters. Our preliminary findings suggest a gender difference concerning physical illness burden.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0353-5053",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}