title: Assaults in the elderly--a population-based study with victim and perpetrator characteristics.
abstract: The aim of the present epidemiological study was to investigate characteristics of assaults in the elderly aged 65 years and above from the perspective of the victim and perpetrator. This population-based study included 23,142 assaults (according to §§ 224/226 StGB of German criminal law) that were recorded in Bavaria, Germany, from 1999 to 2005. The population-based ratio of serious crimes of battery for the elderly in comparison with the reference population was markedly lower (0.10; 95% CI: 0.09-0.11) in suspects aged more than 65 years and 0.08 (95% CI: 0.07-0.09) for the injured above 65 years. Elderly perpetrators differed significantly concerning the manner of the assault (p < 0.001). They committed less crimes in urban areas (56.1% vs. 68.8%) and were victimized significantly more in rural areas (p < 0.001; 41.2% vs. 30.2%). Violence in the elderly differs from that of the younger population. Further research is warranted to establish prevention measures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Erlangen, Schwabachanlage 6, D- 91054 Erlangen, Germany. teresa.biermann@uk-erlangen.de
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Biermann
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Dippel
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bergner
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Coffey
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sperling
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bleich
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kornhuber
authors.forename: Udo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Reulbach
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003415:Crime / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult