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Few Sex Differences in Hospitalized Suicide Attempters Aged 70 and Above.

ABSTRACT: Relatively little research attention has been paid to sex issues in late life suicidal behaviour. The aim was to compare clinical characteristics of women and men aged 70+ who were hospitalized after a suicide attempt. We hypothesized higher depression and anxiety scores in women, and we expected to find that men would more often attribute the attempt to health problems and compromised autonomy. Participants (56 women and 47 men, mean age 80) were interviewed by a psychologist. In addition to psychiatric and somatic health assessments, participants responded to an open-ended question concerning attributions of the attempt. There were no sex differences in depression and anxiety. Forty-five percent of the men and 14% of the women had a history of substance use disorder (p = 0.02). At least one serious physical disability was noted in 60.7% of the women and 53.2% of the men (p = 0.55). Proportions attributing their attempt to somatic illness did not differ (women, 14.5% vs. men 17.4%, p = 0.79), and similar proportions attributed the attempt to reduced autonomy (women, 21.8% vs. men, 26.1%, p = 0.64). We found strikingly similar figures for depression scores, functional disability and attributions for attempting suicide in older men and women. Larger studies are needed in diverse settings as sex differences might be influenced by cultural context.

SUBMITTER: Wiktorsson S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5800240 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Few Sex Differences in Hospitalized Suicide Attempters Aged 70 and Above.

Wiktorsson Stefan S Rydberg Sterner Therese T Mellqvist Fässberg Madeleine M Skoog Ingmar I Ingeborg Berg Anne A Duberstein Paul P Van Orden Kimberly K Waern Margda M

International journal of environmental research and public health 20180116 1

Relatively little research attention has been paid to sex issues in late life suicidal behaviour. The aim was to compare clinical characteristics of women and men aged 70+ who were hospitalized after a suicide attempt. We hypothesized higher depression and anxiety scores in women, and we expected to find that men would more often attribute the attempt to health problems and compromised autonomy. Participants (56 women and 47 men, mean age 80) were interviewed by a psychologist. In addition to ps ...[more]

PMID: 29337907

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Project description:ObjectivesThe primary aim of the present study was to investigate the putative excess mortality by suicide in suicide attempters. As a secondary aim, we investigate excess mortality in specific, clinically relevant subgroups: individuals with repeated suicide attempts (RA); individuals who used violent method at the attempt (VA); and those who scored high on the Suicide Intent Scale (HS) at the time of the baseline attempt. Finally, we investigate excess mortality in men and women separately and within 5 years and over 5 years after hospital admission for attempted suicide.DesignProspective register-based follow-up for 21-32 years. Standardised mortality ratio (SMR) was calculated for suicide using national census data. Clinically relevant subgroups were investigated separately.SettingMedical emergency inpatient unit in the south of Sweden.Participants1039 individuals who were psychiatrically assessed at admission to medical inpatient care for attempted suicide between 1987 and 1998.Outcome measureSuicide.ResultsThe overall SMR for suicide was 23.50 (95% CI 18.68 to 29.56); significantly higher (p<0.001) among women (30.49 (95% CI 22.27 to 41.72)) than men (18.61 (95% CI 13.30 to 26.05)). Mortality was highest within the first 5 years after the index suicide attempt (48.79 (95% CI 35.64 to 66.77)) compared with those who died after 5 years (p<0.001) (14.74 (10.53 to 20.63)). The highest independent SMR was found for VA (70.22 (95% CI 38.89 to 126.80)). In a regression model including RA, VA and HS all contributed significantly to excess suicide mortality.ConclusionsAn elevated risk of premature death by suicide was found in suicide attempters compared with the general population. Assessment of previous suicide attempts is important, even though the attempt/s may have occurred decades ago. When assessing suicide risk, clinicians should consider repeated attempts and whether the attempts involved high suicidal intent and violent method. Healthcare interventions may benefit from targeting identified subgroups of attempters.

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Few Sex Differences in Hospitalized Suicide Attempters Aged 70 and Above.

Publications

Few Sex Differences in Hospitalized Suicide Attempters Aged 70 and Above.

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