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A Study of Elderly Suicide Attempters Admitted to an Inpatient Psychiatric Unit

Geriatric Health Services, Department of Psychiatry and Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.

The authors distinguish demographic and clinical characteristics of elderly suicide attempters admitted to an inpatient psychiatric unit within 4 weeks of a suicide attempt. Of 560 patients admitted, 28 (5%) were recent attempters, 32 (6%) had a past history of suicide attempt, and 500 (89%) were nonattempters. Of the 28 recent attempters, 21 (75%) were diagnosed with a mood disorder, 4 (14%) with an organic mental disorder, and 3(11%) with other mental disorders. Among the nonattempters, the distribution among the three diagnostic categories was 188 (38%), 251 (50%), and 61 (12%), respectively. Of 166patients with a diagnosis of major depression, 18 (11%) were recent attempters, 14 (8%) were past attempters, and 134 (71%) were nonattempters. Recent attempts were significantly associated with alcohol abuse. This study confirms earlier reports of high rates of major depression in elderly attempters.

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