@article{ref1,
title="Pain as a risk factor for suicidal behavior in older adults: a systematic review",
journal="Archives of gerontology and geriatrics",
year="2019",
author="Santos, Joaquim and Martins, Sónia and Azevedo, Luís F. and Fernandes, Lia",
volume="87",
number="",
pages="e104000-e104000",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: The objective of this systematic review was to examine whether pain is a risk factor for suicidal behavior (suicide ideation, suicide attempts or suicide) in older adults. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An extensive search was conducted on the following databases: MEDLINE, ISI Web of Knowledge, Scopus and PsycARTICLES. Search terms used were &quot;pain&quot;, &quot;suicid*&quot; and &quot;elderly&quot;. Studies that assessed the relation between pain and suicidal behavior among people aged ≥60 years were included. Two reviewers independently screened the abstracts and applied selection criteria in the full-text of all included articles. <br><br>RESULTS: Results from 38 original research articles were included and reviewed. Moderate/severe pain increased the risk of suicide ideation from OR = 1.13 (95 %CI = 1.02-1.25) to OR = 2.7 (95 %CI = 1.1-7.0). The influence in suicide attempts ranged between OR = 1.92 (95 %CI 1.17-3.15) and 3.63-fold for extreme pain; and one article reported that the risk of a successful suicide was 4.07-fold higher in pain suffering patients. In most studies, this relation was maintained, even after controlling for other risk factors. Arthritis, back/neck problems and headaches were associated with higher risks of suicidal behavior. Pain was also a stronger predictor for suicide in men (OR = 9.9; 95 %CI = 6.0-16.4) than in women (OR = 3.3; 95 %CI = 1.4-7.7). <br><br>CONCLUSION: Our results suggest the existence of a relationship between pain and suicidal behavior in older adults. This information may be extremely relevant to inform suicide prevention strategies.<br><br>Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0167-4943",
doi="10.1016/j.archger.2019.104000",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2019.104000"
}