The association between life events And suicide intent in self-poisoners with and without a history of deliberate self-harm: a preliminary study.

The associations between life events in the 12 months preceding an episode of self-poisoning resulting in hospital attendance (the index episode), and the suicide intent of this episode were compared in individuals for whom the index episode was their first, episode and in individuals in whom it was a recurrence of DSH. Results indicated a significant interaction between independent life events, repetition status, and gender in the prediction of suicide intent, the association between life events and intent being moderated by repetition status in women only. The results provide preliminary evidence to suggest the presence of a suicidal process in women, in which the impact of negative life events on suicide intent diminishes across episodes

Differences in suicide between the old and the oldest old

Objectives. The purpose of our study was to examine the differences in trends of suicide mortality between the old aged 65-79 years and the oldest old aged 80 years or above. Methods. All persons aged 50 or above who committed suicide in Denmark during 1972-1997 were included. Suicide rates were analysed by sex, age, civil status and methods. A Lexis diagram was applied to study age, period, and cohort effects. Results. In all, 17,328 (10,220 men and 7,108 women) committed suicide. The highest suicide rate was found among the oldest old men, and since the mid-1990’s, also for women. Marriage has a preventive effect on suicide, however this effect decreases with increasing age. With increasing age, more determined suicide methods are used. Discussion. A distinct difference in the suicide mortality of the old and the oldest old was found. Suicides among the old have more in common with the suicide patterns of the middle-aged than with the oldest old. Oldest old committing suicide, have a high suicide intent.aged, old age, suicide

Differences in suicide between the old and the oldest old

Objectives. The purpose of our study was to examine the differences in trends of suicide mortality between the old aged 65-79 years and the oldest old aged 80 years or above. Methods. All persons aged 50 or above who committed suicide in Denmark during 1972-1997 were included. Suicide rates were analysed by sex, age, civil status and methods. A Lexis diagram was applied to study age, period, and cohort effects. Results. In all, 17,328 (10,220 men and 7,108 women) committed suicide. The highest suicide rate was found among the oldest old men, and since the mid-1990's, also for women. Marriage has a preventive effect on suicide, however this effect decreases with increasing age. With increasing age, more determined suicide methods are used. Discussion. A distinct difference in the suicide mortality of the old and the oldest old was found. Suicides among the old have more in common with the suicide patterns of the middle-aged than with the oldest old. Oldest old committing suicide, have a high suicide intent

Loss of partner and suicide risks among oldest old: a population-based register study

Background: while mortality among the oldest old has improved over recent decades, these improvements are not reflected in the suicide mortality of this age group. We do not know the reasons why the suicide mortality is still very high among the oldest old. Objective: the aim is to analyse the impact that loss of a partner has on the suicide risks of the oldest old (80+) compared to younger age groups. Subjects: the entire Danish population aged 50 during 1994-1998 (n = 1,978,527). Methods: we applied survival analysis to calculate the changes in relative risk of suicide after a loss by using individual-level data. Results: the majority of older persons who commit suicide are widowed, although only a relatively small proportion of the oldest old who commit suicide have experienced a recent loss of partner (men: 18%, women: 6%). In absolute terms, the oldest old men experience the highest increase in suicide risk immediately after the loss (15-fold; 95% CI 10.2-23.6) compared to middle-aged men who are still married. Oldest old men seem to suffer more from the loss and need longer time to recover than women. Conclusions: although a small proportion of oldest old who commit suicide have experienced a recent bereavement, there is a significant increase in the suicide risk during the first year after a bereavement, especially for men. However, the increased risk of suicide in the oldest old men may only in part be explained by the loss of a partner. Key Words: suicide, aged, aged 80 and over, bereavement, stressful events, Denmark, elderl

Boganmeldelser

Book review

Differences in suicide between the old and the oldest old

'Objectives: The purpose of our study was to examine the differences in trends of suicide mortality between the old aged 65-79 years and the oldest old aged 80 years or above. Methods: All persons aged 50 or above who committed suicide in Denmark during 1972-1997 were included. Suicide rates were analysed by sex, age, civil status and methods. A Lexis diagram was applied to study age, period, and cohort effects. Results: In all, 17,328 (10,220 men and 7,108 women) committed suicide. The highest suicide rate was found among the oldest old men, and since the mid-1990's, also for women. Marriage has a preventive effect on suicide, however this effect decreases with increasing age. With increasing age, more determined suicide methods are used. Discussion: A distinct difference in the suicide mortality of the old and the oldest old was found. Suicides among the old have more in common with the suicide patterns of the middle-aged than with the oldest old. Oldest old committing suicide, have a high suicide intent.' (author's abstract)Gegenstand der Untersuchung sind Unterschiede in der Sterblichkeit durch Suizid zwischen alten Menschen (65- bis 79jaehrige) und sehr alten Menschen (80 Jahre oder aelter). Die Untersuchung beruecksichtigt alle ueber 50jaehrige Menschen, die in Daenemark zwischen 1972 und 1997 Selbstmord begingen, aufgeschluesselt nach Geschlecht, Alter, Personenstand und Todesart, wobei ein Lexis-Diagramm die Erfassung von Alters-, Perioden- und Kohorteneffekten ermoeglichte. Insgesamt begingen 17328 Menschen Selbstmord, 10220 Maenner und 7108 Frauen. Die hoechste Suizidrate findet sich bei sehr alten Maennern, seit Mitte der 1990er Jahre auch bei Frauen. Heirat hat einen praeventiven, mit dem Alter allerdings abnehmenden Effekt auf Selbstmord. Mit zunehmendem Alter werden zuverlaessigere Selbstmordmethoden verwendet. Es zeigte sich ein klarer Unterschied zwischen der Selbstmordsterblichkeit alter und sehr alter Menschen. Selbstmorde alter Menschen haben mehr mit den Selbstmorden von Menschen im mittleren Lebensalter gemeinsam als mit denen sehr alter Menschen. Bei sehr alten Menschen, die Selbstmord begehen, ist der Todeswunsch sehr hoch. (ICEUebers)German title: Unterschiede zwischen alten und sehr alten Menschen im Hinblick auf SelbstmordeSIGLEAvailable from http://www.demogr.mpg.de/papers/working/wp-2002-030.pdf / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekDEGerman

Problem-solving ability and repetition of deliberate self-harm: a multicentre study

Background. While recent studies have found problem-solving impairments in individuals who engage in deliberate self-harm (DSH), few studies have examined repeaters and non-repeaters separately. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether specific types of problem-solving are associated with repeated DSH. Method. As part of the WHO/EURO Multicentre Study on Suicidal Behaviour, 836 medically treated DSH patients (59% repeaters) from 12 European regions were interviewed using the European Parasuicide Study Interview Schedule (EPSIS II) approximately 1 year after their index episode. The Utrecht Coping List (UCL) assessed habitual responses to problems. Results. Factor analysis identified five dimensions - Active Handling, Passive-Avoidance, Problem Sharing, Palliative Reactions and Negative Expression. Passive-Avoidance - characterized by a pre-occupation with problems, feeling unable to do anything, worrying about the past and taking a gloomy view of the situation, a greater likelihood of giving in so as to avoid difficult situations, the tendency to resign oneself to the situation, and to try to avoid problems - was the problem-solving dimension most strongly associated with repetition, although this association was attenuated by self-esteem. Conclusions. The outcomes of the study indicate that treatments for DSH patients with repeated episodes should include problem-solving interventions. The observed passivity and avoidance of problems (coupled with low self-esteem) associated with repetition suggests that intensive therapeutic input and follow-up are required for those with repeated DSH