title: Risk factors for repetition and suicide following self-harm in older adults: multicentre cohort study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Older adults have elevated suicide rates. Self-harm is the most important risk factor for suicide. There are few population-based studies of self-harm in older adults.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To calculate self-harm rates, risk factors for repetition and rates of suicide following self-harm in adults aged 60 years and over.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied a prospective, population-based self-harm cohort presenting to six general hospitals in three cities in England during 2000 to 2007.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total 1177 older adults presented with self-harm and 12.8% repeated self-harm within 12 months. Independent risk factors for repetition were previous self-harm, previous psychiatric treatment and age 60-74 years. Following self-harm, 1.5% died by suicide within 12 months. The risk of suicide was 67 times that of older adults in the general population. Men aged 75 years and above had the highest suicide rates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Older adults presenting to hospital with self-harm are a high-risk group for subsequent suicide, particularly older men.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Mental Health and Risk, University of Manchester, Jean McFarlane Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK. elizabeth.murphy@manchester.ac.uk
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Navneet
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kapur
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.forename: Nitin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Purandare
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hawton
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bergen
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Waters
authors.forename: Jayne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*