Abstract
BackgroundAn important reason for the high risk of suicide in the elderly is the determination with which they act out their suicidal thoughts. Early identification of suicidal behaviours in the elderly is therefore important for suicide prevention efforts in this population.MethodData are from the Ibadan Study of Ageing (ISA), a household multi-stage probability sample of 2149 Yoruba Nigerians aged 65 years or older conducted between 2003 and 2004. We used the third version of the World Health Organization (WHO) Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) to explore suicidal experiences and behaviours. In this report, only those experiences or behaviours reported to have occurred after the age of 65 years are the focus of analysis. Derived weights were applied to the data in accordance with the study design and associations were explored using logistic regression. The results are presented as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals.ResultIn all, 4.0% (95% C.I= 3.1-4.2) of the subjects had suicidal ideation occurring after the age of 65 years, while 0.7% (95% C.I=0.4-1.3) and 0.2% (95% C.I= 0.1-0.4) reported suicidal plans and attempts, respectively. There was a significantly elevated likelihood of suicidal ideation among persons who had experienced spousal separation through death or divorce (O.R=4.9., 95% C.I= 1.5-15) or who were residing in rural settings (O.R=2.5, 95% C.I=1.3-4.8).ConclusionSuicidal ideation is common among the elderly. About 20% and 6% of those with ideation proceed to plans and attempts, respectively. Circumstances of social isolation and exclusion are important correlates of suicidal behaviour in the elderly.
Highlights
An important reason for the high risk of suicide in the elderly is the determination with which they act out their suicidal thoughts
Suicide is the most common and arguably the most important psychiatric emergency. It is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as “the act of killing oneself deliberately initiated and performed by the person concerned in the full knowledge or expectation of its fatal outcome” [1]
The proportion of completed suicide among suicide attempters is higher in this age category, with 1 suicide reported for every 4 attempts in older adults compared to about 1 completed suicide out of 12 attempts in the general population [9]
Summary
An important reason for the high risk of suicide in the elderly is the determination with which they act out their suicidal thoughts. Suicide is the most common and arguably the most important psychiatric emergency It is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as “the act of killing oneself deliberately initiated and performed by the person concerned in the full knowledge or expectation of its fatal outcome” [1]. The proportion of completed suicide among suicide attempters is higher in this age category, with 1 suicide reported for every 4 attempts in older adults compared to about 1 completed suicide out of 12 attempts in the general population [9]. For these reasons, suicidal behaviour in the elderly is a major public health concern
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