ATTEMPTED-SUICIDE IN OLD-AGE

Studies of attempted suicide (parasuicide, deliberate self-harm) in ol d age published between 1985 and 1994 are critically reviewed with ref erence to demography, suicide methods, stressors, psychiatric features and outcome. Despite methodological weaknesses, the studies consisten tly identified a number of factors long regarded as being associated w ith suicidal behaviour in old age. These include being unmarried, soci al isolation, impaired physical health, high suicidal intent and menta l illness (particularly major depression). In contrast to earlier rese arch, recent studies have found relationship problems to be a prominen t factor. However, in the past decade there has been inadequate examin ation of psychosocial precipitants, motivations and psychopathology an d the manner in which these factors interact. The possibilities of the psychological trait of hopelessness and the biological trait of low c entral serotonergic activity being linked with suicide attempts in the elderly require further research. Future studies should be prospectiv e, longitudinal, use standardized measures, matched control groups and include evaluations of postsuicide attempt interventions, hopelessnes s and central serotonergic activity.