Validating the Geriatric Depression Scale with proxy-based data: A case-control psychological autopsy study in rural China

We used the Geriatric Depression Scale to investigate the depression status of empty nesters living in eastern rural China (N = 967). The results showed that more than half of the participants suffered relatively severe depression and that their mental health was not favorable. Gender, age, level of education, and marital status had a significant influence on depression status. The degree of depression of men was lower than that of women. As participants’ age increased, the degree of depression first rose until the age of 84 and then fell thereafter. The depression of unmarried empty nesters was relatively severe compared to that of married ones. Finally, a higher level of education corresponded with a lower degree of depression. There are varied factors affecting the psychological status of empty nesters in China. To improve their mental state, the government, society, and family need to collaborate and take comprehensive measures.

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Disability in Daily Living Activities, Family Dysfunction, and Late-Life Suicide in Rural China: A Case–Control Psychological Autopsy Study

Frontiers in Psychiatry ◽

10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00827 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Rifang Cao ◽

Cunxian Jia ◽

Zhenyu Ma ◽

Lu Niu ◽

Liang Zhou

Keyword(s):

Daily Living ◽

Rural China ◽

Late Life ◽

Family Dysfunction ◽

Case Control ◽

Psychological Autopsy ◽

Autopsy Study ◽

Daily Living Activities

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Combined effects of depression and anxiety on suicide: A case-control psychological autopsy study in rural China

Psychiatry Research ◽

10.1016/j.psychres.2018.11.010 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 271 ◽

pp. 370-373 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Jie Zhang ◽

Xinxia Liu ◽

Le Fang

Keyword(s):

Rural China ◽

Case Control ◽

Combined Effects ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Psychological Autopsy ◽

Autopsy Study

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The pattern of life events preceding suicide among the elderly in rural China: a national case-control psychological autopsy study

10.21203/rs.2.16288/v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Qiqing Mo ◽

Guojun Wang ◽

Cunxian Jia ◽

Lu Niu ◽

Liang Zhou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Life Events ◽

Terminal Illness ◽

Rural China ◽

The Elderly ◽

Case Control ◽

Psychological Autopsy ◽

Autopsy Study ◽

Event Scale ◽

Life Event

Abstract Background Life events associated with an increased risk of suicide and prior to the suicide in China different from those in Western countries. But there is a lack of summary of the elderly life event patterns on Chinese suicide. The aim of this study was to identify the pattern of life events which precede suicide among the elderly in a Chinese culture context.Methods A two-stage stratified cluster sampling method was used in order to select research sites and 12 counties were randomly selected to recruit cases within three provinces. A case-control psychological autopsy study was then adopted. The study population consisted of 242 suicide cases each with an age of 60 and above, and 242 age-, sex-, and location-matched community living controls. During face-to-face interviews, the information from subjects and proxy informants was obtained by standardized trained investigators. Life events were measured using a 46-item Life Event Scale for the Elderly (LESE).Results About 99.6% of suicides and 88.4% of controls resulted from the experience of at least one life event. The elderly who had committed suicide experienced more long-term life events. The top three most frequent life events were being diagnosed with chronic disease, hospitalization, and being diagnosed with terminal illness. Women more often experienced the death of spouse, while men experienced more hospitalization, and were more likely to be diagnosed with terminal illness and suffer family poverty. The risk of suicide among the elderly who experience life events was 12.8 times higher than that in people who did not experience life events. The elderly who were having unstable marital status, suffering from physical diseases and diagnosed with mental disorders, are more likely to commit suicide.Conclusions Understanding the pattern of life events which precede suicides among the elderly in rural China plays an important role in the prevention of suicide. Several different long-term life events can lead to suicidal behavior, and the effect of life events on suicide is cumulative. Being diagnosed with a serious disease may be one of the risk signals for suicide among the elderly.

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Physical diseases and elderly suicide in rural China: A case–control psychological autopsy study

Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/0004867421998804 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 000486742199880

Author(s):

Guojun Wang ◽

Cunxian Jia ◽

Zhenyu Ma ◽

Liang Zhou

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Mental Disorders ◽

Rural China ◽

Severity Index ◽

The Elderly ◽

Case Control ◽

Psychological Autopsy ◽

Autopsy Study ◽

Physical Diseases ◽

The Relationship

Objectives: Physical diseases are well-established risk factor for suicide, particularly among older adults. However, little is known about the underlying mechanism of the association. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of physical diseases and their influences on the elderly in rural China and to examine the underlying mechanisms of the relationship between physical diseases and suicide. Methods: This matched case–control psychological autopsy study was conducted from June 2014 to September 2015. Consecutive suicide cases (242) among people aged 60 years or above were identified in three Chinese provinces. The suicide cases were 1:1 matched with living comparisons based on age, gender and residential area. Two informants for each participant were interviewed to collect data on their demographic characteristics, the severity index of physical diseases, depressive symptoms, feelings of hopelessness, mental disorders and social support. Results: A significant difference was found between suicide cases and living comparisons regarding the prevalence of physical diseases (83.5% vs 66.5%, p < 0.001) and their severity (11.3 ± 6.2 vs 6.7 ± 5.3, p < 0.001). Independent risks of suicide included the following: not currently married (OR = 2.81, 95% CI = [1.04, 7.62]), mental disorders (OR = 7.18, 95% CI = [1.83, 28.13]), depressive symptoms (OR = 1.15, 95% CI = [1.05, 1.26]) and feelings of hopelessness (OR = 1.51, 95% CI = [1.20, 1.90]). The structural equation model indicated that the relationship between the severity index of physical diseases and suicide was mediated by depressive symptoms, feelings of hopelessness and mental disorders. Conclusion: The severity and number of physical diseases were found to be correlated with suicide among the elderly in rural China, after controlling for demographic characteristics. Physical diseases elevate one’s suicide risk by increasing depressive symptoms, feelings of hopelessness and mental disorders. Efforts for suicide prevention should be integrated with strategies to treat physical diseases along with psychological interventions.

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