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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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| Rates and previous disease history in old age suicide | | Author(s) | Hannu J Koponen, Kalsa Viilo, Helinä Hakko |
| Journal title | International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, vol 22, no 1, January 2007 |
| Pages | pp 38-46 |
| Source | http://www.interscience.wiley.com |
| Keywords | Suicide ; Alcoholism ; Depression ; Chronic illness ; Death rate [statistics] ; Finland. |
| Annotation | Suicide rates in people aged 65+ have been reported to be higher than those of younger age groups. More precise ways to identify potential risk factors for older suicides are needed, since absolute numbers are expected to rise. On the basis of forensic examinations, rates and methods. of suicide for a 15 year period (1988-2003) for older Finns of northern Finland (n=194) were compared to those of adults aged 18-64 (n=1642). Data from victims' earlier illnesses were scrutinised for records of multiple physical disorders. The mean annual rate per 100000 population was significantly lower for older Finns (22.3) than those aged 29-64 (38.4). A decrease in suicide rates over time occurred in both groups. Suicide methods among older Finns were more often violent, and seldom under the influence of alcohol. They also had a high prevalence of previous depressive episodes and physical illnesses treated in hospital. A lifetime history of hospital-treated depression was more common among older victims who had received hospital treatment for genito-urinary diseases, injuries or poisonings after their 50th birthday. In this sample, older people showed lower suicide rates which decreased during the study period, suggesting that active preventive measures against suicide is also feasible in older people. (RH) |
| Accession Number | CPA-070131216 A |
| Classmark | EV: ETA: ENR: CI: S5: 76L |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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