[Epidemiology of suicide in older persons].
The suicide risk in Germany increases with age. The suicide rates follow the so called "Hungarian" pattern. Especially the percentage of older females among all suicides has increased unproportionally in recent years in relation to their percentage in the population. Every second suicide of a female is today a suicide of a female older than 60 years. The main suicide method among older persons is hanging. Suicide attempts are rare among older persons; however, the rates are increasing among the oldest age groups. The suicide attempts of older persons are committed with a higher lethality and show rarely appellative components. Suicide attempt methods are often poisoning with pharmaceuticals. In total the suicide and suicide attempt rates among elderly are underestimated due to indirect methods (passive reactions, e.g. noneating). Reasons for suicides and suicide attempts among older persons are often psychic illnesses (mostly depression), motives often include loss of partners, loss of the social network, fear of the consequences of somatic illnesses and loss of freedom of action. Thus, often the social situation of older persons with suicide attempts changed before suicide was attempted.
Schmidtke
A
A
Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie des Universitätsklinikums Würzburg, Füchsleinstrasse 15, 97080 Würzburg, Germany.
Sell
R
R
Löhr
C
C
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data