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One hundred cases of attempted suicide in the elderly

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

Jason Hepple  and
Catherine Quinton
Jason Hepple*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford
Catherine Quinton
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford
*
Dr Jason Hepple, Cotswold House, Warneford Hospital, Oxford OX3 7JX
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Abstract

Background

Despite the high suicide rate in the elderly, there is a relative lack of information on the longer-term outcome of elderly people who have attempted suicide, particularly their psychiatric and physical morbidity and mortality.

Method

Comprehensive demographic and psychiatric data were available on 100 consecutive referrals to a liaison psychiatric service of patients over 65 years of age who attempted suicide between 1989 and 1992. Detailed follow-up in 1994 included the interviewing of survivors using GMS–AGECAT.

Results

Of the 64 women and 36 men, with a mean age of 75.8 years, 42 subjects were dead at follow-up; 12 were suspected suicides, five having died as a delayed result of their index attempt. Twelve women made a further non-lethal suicide attempt. All five male repeat attempts proved fatal.

Conclusions

Elderly people who attempt suicide have a high mortality both from completed suicide and death from other causes. The completed suicide rate is at least 1.5% per year, and the repetition rate is 5.4% per year. Those at risk of further self-harm are likely to be in contact with psychiatric services and to be suffering from persistent depression.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 171 , Issue 1 , July 1997 , pp. 42 - 46
Copyright
Copyright © 1997 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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