Suicide in the old man

The most worrisome complication of depression is suicide. Other complications include decreased job performance and deterioration in social relationships.

Furthermore, depression is known to complicate the course of medical illnesses in the elderly; it interferes in the rehabilitation of disabling diseases such as stroke and translates into higher mortality from any cause in the sufferer.

Factors

• Less social support of the depressed elderly.
• Worse nutritional status due to loss of appetite.
• Possible Effects of Depression on the Immune System.
• Loss of motivation for self-care.

Suicide occurs twice as often in the elderly that in the general population and 80% of the elderly over 74 who commit suicide suffer from a depressive syndrome. Major depression and substance abuse rank among the leading causes of suicide in this age group. Although suicidal ideation decreases with age, when it is present it is a risk factor.

The epidemiology of suicidal behavior in the elderly can be described under the terms of suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, and suicide. The prevalence of hopelessness or suicidal thoughts in the elderly varies from 0.7% to 17%. There is a close association between suicide and psychiatric pathology, particularly depression. The prevalence of suicidal thoughts in the elderly with mental illness is 4%.

Suicide data in the elderly

Suicide rates in the elderly vary between cultures, although information from the World Health Organization reveals that the prevalence increases with age. In the case of men, the rate rises from 19.2 per 100,000 inhabitants between 15 and 24 years of age to 55.7 per 100,000 inhabitants among those over 75 years of age. In women, the corresponding values ​​are 5.6 per 100,000 and 18.9 per 100,000, respectively.

Risk factor's

• abuse of alcohol and other substances.
• psychotic symptoms.
• major anxiety.
• family or personal history of suicide attempts.
• exposure to stressful events in the weeks leading up to the event.
• lack of support and social isolation; especially individuals living alone (single, widowed or divorced).
• certain physical disorders, especially visual impairment, malignant and neurological diseases.

The detection of suicidal thinking is timely in people with depressive pathologies, previous suicide attempts, physical or socially isolated diseases. Older people do not usually report their suicidal thoughts, and they may even be present in individuals with few depressive symptoms. Therefore, healthcare professionals must be trained to detect them.

Suicide in the elderly is a complex and multifactorial phenomenon. Active search, prevention and treatment programs should focus on this population due to the increased risk of suicide, especially those with additional risk factors.