Differences in risk factors for suicidality between African American and White patients vulnerable to suicide.
Risk factors for suicidal ideation and attempts have been shown to differ between African Americans and Whites across the lifespan. In the present study, risk factors for suicidality were examined separately by race/ethnicity in a population of 131 older adult patients considered vulnerable to suicide due to substance abuse and/or medical frailty. In adjusted analyses, social support was significantly associated with suicidality in African American patients, while younger age and the presence of an anxiety disorder were significantly associated with suicidality in White patients. The results suggest that race/ethnicity-specific risk profiles may improve the detection of suicidality in vulnerable populations.
Vanderwerker
Lauren C
LC
Center for Psycho-Oncology and Palliative Care Research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Chen
Joyce H
JH
Charpentier
Peter
P
Paulk
Mary Elizabeth
ME
Michalski
Marion
M
Prigerson
Holly G
HG
D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*