title: Age differences in behaviors leading to completed suicide.
abstract: The authors described retrospectively the premorbid self destructive behaviors of suicide victims to determine whether these behaviors differ with age. One hundred forty one suicide victims, age 21-92 years, were studied by psychological autopsy. Older age was significantly associated with more determined and planful self-destructive acts, less violent methods, and fewer warnings of suicidal intent. Age differences in the behaviors leading to suicide indicate that intervention in the midst of a suicidal crisis may be less effective in elderly persons than in younger people. Primary prevention should be the focus of efforts to decrease suicide rates in late life.
authors.affiliation: University of Rochester School of Medicine, NY, USA. yconwell@cc.urmc.rochester.edu
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Conwell
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Duberstein
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Forbes
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Caine
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*