| |
Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
 | |
|
| Elderly suicide in primary care | | Author(s) | George Tadros, Emad Salib |
| Journal title | International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, vol 22, no 8, August 2007 |
| Pages | pp 750-756 |
| Source | http://www.interscience.wiley.com |
| Keywords | Coroners inquests ; Suicide ; Preventative medicine ; General practice ; Longitudinal surveys ; Birmingham ; Solihull. |
| Annotation | Primary care is probably the most suitable setting to start a suicide prevention strategy for older people, especially as more people are seen before committing suicide in primary care than in secondary care. This study examines the nature of complaints and timing of presentation to general practitioners (GPs) by suicide victims in their last GP consultation, comparing those aged 65+ with those aged 18-64. Details of all cases of suicide verdict and open verdict which were returned at inquests held at the Coroner's Court of Birmingham and Solihull between January 1995 and December 1999 were reviewed. Older people had more physical illness and were more likely to have seen their GP in the 6 months before suicide. Younger adults presented with more psychiatric symptoms, while older adults presented with physical symptoms. Complaints to the GP in the last consultation were significantly different between the two age groups. Older people are more commonly present with physical pain and depression. The study found that older suicide victims had different characteristics and attributes from those of younger adults presenting in primary care. This difference may have implications for suicide research, training of primary care staff and suicide prevention programmes. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-070910203 A |
| Classmark | JVM: EV: LK2: L5: 3J: 87E: 87F |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
|
| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
| |
|