Age Differences in Behaviors Leading to Completed Suicide

TLDR

Primary prevention should be the focus of efforts to decrease suicide rates in late life. The authors described retrospectively the premorbid self‑destructive behaviors of suicide victims to determine whether these behaviors differ with age. One hundred forty‑one suicide victims, age 21‑92 years, were studied by psychological autopsy. Older suicide victims were more likely to engage in determined, planful self‑destructive acts, use less violent methods, and give fewer warnings of intent, suggesting that crisis‑intervention strategies may be less effective for the elderly.

Abstract

The authors described retrospectively the premorbid self destructive behaviors of suicide victims to determine whether these behaviors differ with age. One hundred forty one suicide victims, age 21-92 years, were studied by psychological autopsy. Older age was significantly associated with more determined and planful self-destructive acts, less violent methods, and fewer warnings of suicidal intent. Age differences in the behaviors leading to suicide indicate that intervention in the midst of a suicidal crisis may be less effective in elderly persons than in younger people. Primary prevention should be the focus of efforts to decrease suicide rates in late life.