Are gender and life attitudes associated with the wish to die in older psychiatric and somatic inpatients? An explorative study

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (10) ◽  
pp. 1693-1702 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anke Bonnewyn ◽  
Ajit Shah ◽  
Ronny Bruffaerts ◽  
Koen Demyttenaere
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Depressive Disorder ◽  
Purpose In Life ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Unique Contribution ◽  
Life Attitudes ◽  
Wish To Die ◽  
Death Wishes ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Death Wish

ABSTRACTBackground:Death wishes are not uncommon in older persons, and to date, several risk factors have been identified. The presence of these risk factors is insufficient to fully understand why some older people, who are exposed to them, develop a wish to die and why others do not. The purpose of the study was to explore whether Purpose in Life as well as other life attitudes are associated with a death wish in older males and females.Methods:The sample comprised 113 older inpatients (from a psychiatric and somatic ward) with a mean age of 74 years. Psychiatric diagnoses were assessed by the SCID-II. Logistic regression analyses estimated the unique contribution of (the interaction between) life attitudes and gender to the wish to die, controlling for sociodemographic variables, depressive disorder, and somatic symptoms.Results:We observed a statistically significant relationship between life attitudes and the wish to die. Purpose in Life and the Purpose in Life*Gender interaction explained significant additional variance in the prediction of the wish to die. Purposelessness in life might therefore be an important correlate of a wish to die, especially in older men, independently from sociodemographic and clinical features.Conclusions:In assessing a wish to die in older adults, life attitudes need to be taken into account, besides the presence of a depressive disorder and/or somatic health. More specifically, finding or maintaining a purpose in later life might be an important feature in the prevention of the wish to die, especially in male persons.

The Death Wish in the Hebrew Bible

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanne Løland Levinson
Keyword(s):  
Conversation Analysis ◽  
Hebrew Bible ◽  
Narrative Criticism ◽  
Rhetorical Strategies ◽  
Literary Context ◽  
Wish To Die ◽  
Death Wishes ◽  
Death Wish ◽  
Previous Scholarship

This is the first book to systematically investigate the texts in the Hebrew Bible in which a character expresses a wish to die. Contrary to previous scholarship on these texts that assumed these death wishes were simply a desire to escape suffering, Hanne Løland Levinson employs narrative criticism and conversation analysis, together with diachronic methods, to carefully hear each death-wish text in its literary context. She demonstrates that death wishes embody powerful, multi-faceted rhetorical strategies. Grouping the death-wish texts into four main rhetorical strategies of negotiation, expression of despair and anger, longing to undo one's existence, and wishing for a different reality, Løland Levinson portrays the complex reasons why characters in the Hebrew Bible wish for death. She concludes that the death wishes navigate the tension between longing for death and fighting for survival - a tension that many live with also today as they attempt to claim agency and autonomy in life.

The relation between suicidal feelings and mental disorders in the elderly: results from the Berlin Aging Study (BASE)

2004 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 741-746 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. BARNOW ◽  
M. LINDEN ◽  
H.-J. FREYBERGER
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Female Gender ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Subjective Assessment ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Wish To Die ◽  
Death Wishes ◽  
Using Data

Background. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the influence of several risk factors (particularly physical and mental disorders, loneliness and housing conditions) on the wish to die in the elderly.Method. Using data from a population-based sample of 516 senior citizens (70 to 103 years of age) in Berlin (Germany), we compared 54 persons with death wishes with 462 persons without death wishes on several psychosocial risk factors, physical health and psychiatric diagnoses. A logistic regression analysis was also conducted.Results. The data indicate that the wish to die is strongly associated with the presence of a mental disorder, especially major depression, while higher age, female gender, subjective assessment of physical health and negative living conditions were all only moderately related to death wishes.Conclusions. Our results emphasize the need for very careful diagnosis of death wishes in the very old and question the view that it is a normal and understandable phenomenon in older age.

Understanding Why Older People Develop a Wish to Die

Crisis ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 204-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. L. Rurup ◽  
H. R. W. Pasman ◽  
J. Goedhart ◽  
D. J. H. Deeg ◽  
A. J. F. M. Kerkhof ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Cohort Studies ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Traumatic Life Events ◽  
Quantitative Studies ◽  
Wish To Die ◽  
Open Coding ◽  
Death Wishes ◽  
Depth Interviews

Background: Quantitative studies in several European countries showed that 10–20% of older people have or have had a wish to die. Aims: To improve our understanding of why some older people develop a wish to die. Methods: In-depth interviews with people with a wish to die (n = 31) were carried out. Through open coding and inductive analysis, we developed a conceptual framework to describe the development of death wishes. Respondents were selected from two cohort studies. Results: The wish to die had either been triggered suddenly after traumatic life events or had developed gradually after a life full of adversity, as a consequence of aging or illness, or after recurring depression. The respondents were in a situation they considered unacceptable, yet they felt they had no control to change their situation and thus progressively “gave up” trying. Recurring themes included being widowed, feeling lonely, being a victim, being dependent, and wanting to be useful. Developing thoughts about death as a positive thing or a release from problems seemed to them like a way to reclaim control. Conclusions: People who wish to die originally develop thoughts about death as a positive solution to life events or to an adverse situation, and eventually reach a balance of the wish to live and to die.

Suicide Attempts Among Depressed Inpatients with Depressive Disorder in a Malaysian Sample

Crisis ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 283-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. F. Chan ◽  
T. Maniam ◽  
A. S. Shamsul
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Suicide Attempt ◽  
Depressive Disorder ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Psychosocial Risk Factors ◽  
Psychosocial Risk ◽  
Life Event ◽  
Axis I ◽  
A Current

Background: Depressed inpatients constitute a high-risk population for suicide attempts. Aims: To describe the interactions of clinical and psychosocial risk factors influencing suicide attempts among a Malaysian sample of depressed inpatients. Methods: Seventy-five subjects were diagnosed with a depressive disorder according to the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders-Clinical Version (SCID-CV). Data on suicide attempts, suicidal ideation (Scale for Suicidal Ideation, SSI), depression severity (Beck’s Depression Inventory, BDI), recent life-event changes (Social Readjustment Rating Scale, SRRS), sociodemographic and other relevant clinical factors were collected. Results: A third of the subjects presented after a current suicide attempt. Significant factors for a current suicide attempt were race, religion, recent life-event changes, suicidal ideation, and alcohol use disorder. Independent predictive risk factors for a current suicide attempt were Chinese race, recent marital separation, major mortgage or loans, and being newly diagnosed with depression. Any recent change in personal habits was shown to be a protective factor against current suicide attempt. Age and gender were nonsignificant factors. Conclusions: The findings are generally consistent with existing studies and highlight the role of psychosocial risk factors.

Impact of age and sex on subclinical coronary atherosclerosis in a healthy asian population

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Wong ◽  
J Yap ◽  
KK Yeo
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Coronary Artery ◽  
Coronary Atherosclerosis ◽  
Ldl Cholesterol ◽  
Multivariable Analysis ◽  
Asian Population ◽  
Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Age And Gender ◽  
And Gender

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background and Aims The influence of age and gender on clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is well reported, but literature remains sparse on whether these extend to the disease in its preclinical stage. We aim to report the prevalence, risk-factors and impact of age and gender on the burden of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis in a healthy Asian population. Methods Healthy subjects aged 30-69 years old, with no history of cardiovascular disease or diabetes were recruited from the general population. Subclinical coronary atherosclerosis was quantified via the Coronary Artery Calcium Score (CACS) with CACS of 0 indicating the absence of calcified plaque, 1 to 10 minimal plaque, 11 to 100 mild plaque, and >100 moderate to severe plaque. Results A total of 663 individuals (mean age 49.4 ± 9.2 years, 44.8% male) were included. The prevalence of any CAC was 29.3% with 9% having CAC > 100.  The prevalence was significantly higher in males than females (43.1 vs 18.0%, p < 0.001). These gender differences became increasingly pronounced with increasing age, especially in those with moderate-severe CAC. Multivariable analysis revealed significant associations between increasing age, male, higher blood pressure, increased glucose levels and higher LDL cholesterol levels with the presence of any CAC. LDL cholesterol was more significantly associated with CAC in females compared to males (Pinteraction = 0.022). Conclusions The prevalence of preclinical atherosclerosis increased with age, and was higher in males than females, with gender-specific differences in associated risk factors. These results will better inform individualised future risk management strategies to prevent the development and progression of coronary artery disease within healthy individuals.

scholarly journals 669 Increased Nightmares During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Exploring the Role of Resilience and Emotions

SLEEP ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. A261-A262
Author(s):  
Jérémie Potvin ◽  
Laura Ramos Socarras ◽  
Geneviève Forest
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Negative Emotions ◽  
Unique Contribution ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Resilience Scale ◽  
And Gender ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Tremendous Impact

Abstract Introduction COVID-19 had a tremendous impact on many aspects of our lives and has caused an increase in stress and mental health issues in many people. We have recently found that there was an increase in nightmares during the pandemic in young adults. Since emotions have been associated with both resilience and nightmares, the objective of this study was to investigate the role of resilience and emotional changes in the increase in nightmares observed during the pandemic, in a group of young adults. Methods Resilience, emotions and nightmares were assessed using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale-10, the Differential Emotions Scale-IV and an adapted version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Measures were administered to 209 young adults (18–25 years old, 76.1% females). Hierarchical multiple regression models were computed to examine the unique contribution of changes in positive and negative emotions during the pandemic to the increase in nightmares during the pandemic. Analyses were controlled for nightmares and emotions prior to COVID-19, and for gender. The sample was separated in two groups: resilient and less resilient young adults. Results Results show that in less resilient young adults, nightmares prior to COVID-19 (β=.79, p<.001) and increase in negative emotions (β=.21, p=.033) significantly predicted nightmares during the pandemic and explained 67.0% of their variance. In resilient young adults, nightmares prior to COVID-19 (β=.56, p<.001) and gender (β=-.15, p=.04) significantly predicted nightmares during the pandemic and explained 52.0% of the variance. Conclusion Our results show that increase in negative emotions during the pandemic is associated with an increase in nightmares in less resilient young adults, but not in resilient young adults. Furthermore, our results show that in resilient young adults, being a woman is associated with an increase in nightmares during the pandemic. These results suggest that resilience may be a protective factor in managing the impact of negative emotions on nightmares, but only in men. Support (if any):

Association of Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Disease With Depression in Later Life

2007 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 506-513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Osvaldo P. Almeida ◽  
Leon Flicker ◽  
Paul Norman ◽  
Graeme J. Hankey ◽  
Samuel Vasikaran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cardiovascular Risk ◽  
Cardiovascular Risk Factors ◽  
Later Life

FACTORS IN CHILDHOOD AS PREDICTORS OF ASTHMA IN ADULT LIFE

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 96 (2) ◽  
pp. 388-388
Author(s):  
Thomas Bell
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Adult Life ◽  
Later Life

The authors speculate that reducing frequency and severity of attacks might prevent symptoms in later life and they discuss the implications for use of corticosteroids. Other risk factors are examined and I encourage you to read this article in detail.

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