scholarly journals Few Sex Differences in Hospitalized Suicide Attempters Aged 70 and Above

Author(s):  
Stefan Wiktorsson ◽  
Therese Rydberg Sterner ◽  
Madeleine Mellqvist Fässberg ◽  
Ingmar Skoog ◽  
Anne Ingeborg Berg ◽  
...  

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, but women were more likely to report that they found their situation hopeless (67.9% vs. 43.8%, 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). The unexpected lack of sex differences might be influenced by cultural context in which sex norms play a part.

2014 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 270-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clarissa M. Giebel ◽  
Paul Clarkson ◽  
David Challis

Aims and methodTo investigate the demographic and clinical characteristics of subgroups of UK veterans attending a dedicated psychological therapies service following the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) treatment model. Veterans accessing a newly established service in the north-west were categorised into three groups: early service leavers, those with a physical disability, and substance and/or alcohol misusers. Anxiety, depression and social functioning were measured pre- and post-treatment.ResultsVeterans vary in their demographic and clinical characteristics as well as in treatment efficacy, as measured by the post-treatment scores on probable depression and anxiety. Therapy appears to be most effective in early service leavers, whereas veterans with a physical disability or a substance or alcohol misuse problem tend not to do as well in terms of symptoms of depression or anxiety.Clinical implicationsThis study highlights the importance of targeting different veteran subgroups for dedicated psychological therapy.


2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S601-S601
Author(s):  
E. Gattoni ◽  
A. Feggi ◽  
C. Gramaglia ◽  
P. Bergamasco ◽  
I. Coppola ◽  
...  

BackgroundSuicide attempts, defined as self-inflicted, potentially injurious behaviors with a nonfatal outcome, and with evidence of intent to die are extremely prevalent. Literature suggests that suicide is more common among males, while attempted suicide is more frequent among females. Depression, mental disorders, substance use disorders and history of suicidal behavior are important risk factors for suicide: the risk of suicide attempt is 3 to 12 times higher in psychiatric patients than in the general population.AimThe aim of our study was to compare severity of depressive symptoms in a sample of suicide attempters with a diagnosis of bipolar and related disorders or depressive disorders and in a sample of sex- and diagnosis-matched patients who do not commit a suicide attempt. The severity of attempted suicide and the suicidal risk in the hospital will be assessed as well.Material and methodsWe collected a sample of inpatients who committed a suicide attempt during 2015. For each attempter, we selected another sex- and diagnosis-matched patient with no history of attempted suicide. Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of the sample were gathered. Assessment included: Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) for severity of depressive symptoms in both groups, Suicide Intent Scale (SIS) for the severity of attempted suicide and the suicidal risk with a nurse assessment for suicide.ResultsData collecting is still ongoing. We expected to find more severe symptoms in patients who attempted suicide. Clinical implication will be discussed.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


Crisis ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 90-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Osman Ozdel ◽  
Gulfizar Varma ◽  
Figen C. Atesci ◽  
Nalan K. Oguzhanoglu ◽  
Filiz Karadag ◽  
...  

Background: Suicidal behavior is one of the most important problems in psychiatric clinics. Several sociodemographic and clinical characteristics may have different effects on suicidal behavior. Aims: To examine the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of a sample of 144 suicide attempters admitted to a Turkish emergency clinic for a suicide attempt. Methods: All subjects were interviewed by a consultant psychiatrist. For all individuals, data on DSM-IV psychiatric diagnoses, sociodemographic data, Beck’s Hopelessness Scale (BHS), Becks’s Suicidal Ideation Scale (SIS), and Beck’s Suicidal Intention Scale (BSIS) were collected. Results: The majority of suicide attempters were females characterized by low educational status and low religious orientation. Drug overdose was the most common method of suicide attempt and conflict within the family was the most fre uent psychological stress factor. Three- uarters of attempters (74.6%) met DSM-IV criteria for at least one psychiatric diagnosis. Of these, 28.5% met criteria for major depressive disorder. Suicide attempters with depression tended to be immigrant, urban dwellers with high scores on the suicide intent scale. Conclusions: In the present study, the findings are useful in showing the risk factors related to suicidal behavior.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Qi Zhang ◽  
Su Hong ◽  
Jun Cao ◽  
Yi Zhou ◽  
Xiaoming Xu ◽  
...  

Suicidal behavior is a leading cause of death and often commences during adolescence/young adulthood (15~29 years old). The hippocampus, which consists of multiple functionally specialized subfields, may contribute to the pathophysiology of depression and suicidal behavior. We aimed to investigate the differences of hippocampal subfield volume between major depressive disorder (MDD) patients with and without suicide attempts and healthy controls in adolescents and young adults. A total of 40 MDD suicide attempters (MDD+SA), 27 MDD patients without suicide attempt (MDD-SA), and 37 healthy controls (HC) were recruited. High-resolution T1 MRI images were analyzed with the automated hippocampal substructure module in FreeSurfer 6.0. Volume differences among the groups were analyzed by a generalized linear model controlling for intracranial cavity volume (ICV). The relationship between hippocampal subfield volumes and clinical characteristics (HAM-D and SSI scores) was assessed using two-tailed partial correlation controlling for ICV in MDD+SA and MDD-SA. We found that MDD-SA had significantly smaller bilateral hippocampal fissure volume than HC and MDD+SA. No significant correlation was observed between hippocampal subfield volume and clinical characteristics (HAM-D and SSI scores) in MDD+SA and MDD-SA. Adolescent/young adult suicide attempters with MDD suicide attempters have larger bilateral hippocampal fissures than depressed patients without suicide attempts, independently from clinical characteristics. Within the heterogeneous syndrome of major depressive disorder that holds a risk for suicidality for subgroups, hippocampal morphology may help to explain or possibly predict such risk, yet longitudinal and functional studies are needed for understanding the biological mechanisms underlying.


2004 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 140-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsi H. Suominen ◽  
Erkki T. Isometsä ◽  
Jouko K. Lönnqvist

AbstractThis study investigated the differences in clinical characteristics between suicide attempters referred or not referred to psychiatric consultation after a suicide attempt and factors affecting such referral to psychiatric aftercare after attempted suicide. All 1198 consecutive suicide attempters treated in hospital emergency rooms in Helsinki during a 12-month period were identified. Data were gathered on any psychiatric consultation after the attempt and on all health care contacts 1 year before and after the index attempt. We found that half of the suicide attempters who were not referred to psychiatric consultation were without any aftercare recommendation and treatment contact soon after their attempt. Factors predicting referral to psychiatric consultation were age, psychotic disorder, lack of substance use disorder and, most strongly, the hospital where the suicide attempt was treated. Although the characteristics of a patient attempting suicide do play a role in determining whether a psychiatric consultation will take place or not, the most important factor is the consultation practices of the particular hospital. This in turn influences the probability of adequate aftercare.


Crisis ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 303-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bas Verwey ◽  
Jeroen A. van Waarde ◽  
Molla A. Bozdağ ◽  
Iris van Rooij ◽  
Edwin de Beurs ◽  
...  

Background: Assessment of suicide attempters in a general hospital may be influenced by the condition of the patient and the unfavorable circumstances of the hospital environment. Aims: To determine whether the results of a reassessment at home shortly after discharge from hospital differ from the initial assessment in the hospital. Methods: In this prospective study, systematic assessment of 52 suicide attempters in a general hospital was compared with reassessment at home, shortly after discharge. Results: Reassessments at home concerning suicide intent, motives for suicide attempt, and dimensions of psychopathology did not differ significantly from the initial hospital assessment. However, patients’ motives for the suicide attempt had changed to being less impulsive and more suicidal, worrying was significantly higher, and self-esteem was significantly lower. A third of the patients had forgotten their aftercare arrangements and most patients who initially felt no need for additional help had changed their mind at reassessment. Conclusions: Results from this group of suicide attempters suggest that a brief reassessment at home shortly after discharge from hospital should be considered.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Ali Bani-Fatemi ◽  
Christopher Adanty ◽  
Nasia Dai ◽  
Ariel Graff ◽  
Philip Gerretsen ◽  
...  

Background: Studies have shown that the overall copy number variant (CNV) load is associated with schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that is frequently associated with suicidal behavior. Methods: We recruited 263 patients with schizophrenia from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. The Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale was used to assess the presence of lifetime suicide attempt. Genotyping was completed using the Illumina Omni 2.5 chip. We tested the association between deletion events on chromosome 22 with suicide attempt in our schizophrenia sample. Results: There was no significant difference between suicide attempters and non-attempters considering the presence/absence of deletion events on chromosome 22. Conclusion: Although our results did not show a significant association between deletions on chromosome 22 and suicide attempt in schizophrenia, CNV studies may reveal important, novel insights and open further investigation for the treatment of neuropsychiatric diseases.


2007 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ki Hong Lee ◽  
Myung Ho Jeong ◽  
Young Keun Ahn ◽  
Jong Hyun Kim ◽  
Shung Chull Chae ◽  
...  

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