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Do Cerebrovascular Risk Factors Confer Risk for Suicide in Later Life? A Case-Control Study

From the Department of Psychiatry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China (SSC); and the Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY (JML, YC).

Objective: Cerebrovascular pathologies have been implicated as a cause of depressive disorders. This study aims to examine the role of cerebrovascular risk factors in late-life suicide.

Methods: The authors calculated cerebrovascular risk factor (CVRF) score, based on the American Heart Association Criteria, for each case and comparison subject from a psychological autopsy study of suicide among community-dwelling adults over age 50 years.

Results: CVRF scores were significantly higher in suicide cases than community-dwelling comparison subjects after accounting for age, sex, depression diagnosis, and functional status.

Conclusion: Cerebrovascular disease may predispose to suicide in older adults by a variety of psychopathological means.

Key Words: Suicide • cerebrovascular pathologies • later life