title: Suicidal feelings in the twilight of life: a cross-sectional population-based study of 97-year-olds.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the occurrence of past month suicidal feelings in extreme old age. Further, to identify factors associated with such feelings.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional population-based study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Gothenburg, Sweden.
  
  
  METHODS
  269 adults (197 women, 72 men) without dementia born in 1901-1909 who participated in a psychiatric examination.
  
  
  METHODS
  Death thoughts and suicidal feelings. The latter were rated in accordance with the Paykel questions (life not worth living, death wishes, thoughts of taking own life, seriously considered taking own life, attempted suicide) during the past month.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One quarter of the sample (26.7%) reported that they thought about their own death at least once a month. Past month thoughts that life was not worth living were acknowledged by 7.9% of the total sample, death wishes by 10.5% and thoughts of taking life by 3.8%. Few had serious thoughts of taking own life (0.8%) and none had attempted suicide. In all, 11.5% acknowledged some level of suicidal feelings. Most (77.4%) of those who reported such feelings fulfilled criteria for neither major nor minor depression. Neither poor perceived health nor disability (hearing, vision and motor function) was associated with suicidal feelings. Problematic sleep and deficient social contacts were also related to suicidal feelings after adjustment for depression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Suicidal feelings may occur outside the context of depression and disability in this age group. Results can inform clinicians who care for persons who reach extreme old age.
authors: Neuropsychiatric Epidemiology Unit, Section for Psychiatry and Neurochemistry,  Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Mölndal,  Sweden.
authors: Madeleine Mellqvist
authors: MM
authors: Fässberg
authors: Svante
authors: S
authors: Ostling
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Börjesson-Hanson
authors: Ingmar
authors: I
authors: Skoog
authors: Margda
authors: M
authors: Wærn
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