Studies of suicide in later life: methodologic considerations and research directions.
Later-life suicide is a tragedy that occurs worldwide. Often it is preventable. Here, the authors summarize an international workshop where they review four research approaches to studying putative risk factors: epidemiologic studies of suicidal behaviors, clinic-based follow-up studies, studies of suicide attempters, and psychological autopsy studies. They provide brief descriptions of the approaches, examples of questions best addressed by each approach, and their weaknesses and limitations; they also recommend promising areas for future research and propose opportunities for research that could be conducted cross-nationally.
Pearson
J L
JL
National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-9635, USA.
Caine
E D
ED
Lindesay
J
J
Conwell
Y
Y
Clark
D C
DC
D000368:Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012107:Research Design; D012307:Risk Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000092864:Suicide Prevention