REPEATED DELIBERATE SELF-HARM IN THE ELDERLY

Previous reports on deliberate self-harm (DSH) in old age are reviewed and the lack of any study on repetition in this group is pointed out. The study then describes 39 patients over the age of 60 who presented after repeated self-harm at a district general hospital between 1973 and 1993. They made up 1% pf all DSH cases, 28 were female and 11 were male, seven were multiple repeaters. Thirty were suffering from depre ssive illnesses, six showed significant cognitive impairment, while fi ve (four of them women) gave a history of alcohol abuse. A trend emerg ed for women to score higher than men on a measure of suicidal intent. Two patients committed suicide during the study period. These finding s are discussed together with their implications for the management an d prevention of suicidal behaviour in the elderly.