Elderly suicide and attempted suicide: One syndrome

In this study we explore whether elderly suicide victims who had a previous history of attempted suicide differ from those with no similar history. A group of the elderly, who ended their lives with fatal self-harm (FSH) an d had a history of deliberate self-harm (DSH) was compared to a matching gr oup of the elderly who also ended their lives with FSH, but who were not kn own to have had any history of DSH. The comparison was in respect of epidem iological, social, psychological characteristics, ser-vice input and method s of suicide. The elderly, with a history of DSH, were more likely to have been known to the mental health services than the elderly who did not have such a history (P < .05). The two groups used similar methods in their final FSH act. The elderly victims of FSH with or without a previous history of DSH share the same characteristics. The two groups appear to be part of one syndrome. Deliberate self-harm in the elderly should be taken seriously as an unsucce ssful suicide rather than a manipulative act or a cry for help and attentio n.