Suicide in later life: psychological autopsy findings.
The authors report preliminary data from a psychological autopsy study of completed suicide in late life. Sixteen of 18 victims had diagnosable psychopathology, most commonly major depression of late onset. Symptoms manifest prior to death are described and directions for future investigation discussed. The psychological autopsy is shown to be a viable method for studying suicide in the elderly.
Conwell
Y
Y
UR-NIMH Clinical Research Center for the Study of Psychopathology of the Elderly (CRC/PE), University of Rochester School of Medicine, New York.
Olsen
K
K
Caine
E D
ED
Flannery
C
C
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology* / Q000639:trends; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology / Q000639:trends