
|
|  | |
|
Am J Psychiatry 1996; 153:1001-1008
Copyright © 1996 by American Psychiatric Association
Relationships of age and axis I diagnoses in victims of completed suicide: a psychological autopsy study
Y Conwell, PR Duberstein, C Cox, JH Herrmann, NT Forbes and ED Caine
Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester School of Medicine, NY, USA. conwell@metro.bst.rochester.edu
OBJECTIVE: Psychiatric illness is a potent risk factor for suicide, rates
of which differ markedly with age. The purpose of this study was to examine
whether the psychiatric diagnoses of suicide victims vary predictably with
age. METHOD: DSM-III-R axis I diagnoses of 141 persons aged 21 to 92 years
who had completed suicide were established by the psychological autopsy
method. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to determine
whether age, gender, or their interaction predicted the presence of
specific disorders. RESULTS: One or more axis I conditions were diagnosable
in 90.1% of the suicide victims. Substance use disorders were most
frequent, followed by mood disorders and primary psychotic illness. Younger
age at death was a significant predictor of substance abuse or dependence
and primary psychoses, while older age predicted major mood disorders.
Comorbidity of substance use and mood disorders was common. Among victims
with substance abuse or dependence, older age at death predicted major
depression; among victims with mood disorders, younger age at death
predicted comorbid substance abuse or dependence. CONCLUSIONS: The
distribution of psychiatric illnesses in suicide victims differs across the
life course. Age-related patterns of addictive and psychotic disorders echo
their prevalence in the general population. In contrast, the relationship
between age and mood disorders among suicide victims is distinctly
different from that of the general population. These findings suggest that
risk for suicide increases with age in individuals with major affective
illness. Depressed elderly men are particular targets for suicide
prevention strategies.
This article has been cited by other articles:

|
 |

|
 |
 
S. D. Vannoy, T. Fancher, C. Meltvedt, J. Unutzer, P. Duberstein, and R. L. Kravitz
Suicide Inquiry in Primary Care: Creating Context, Inquiring, and Following Up
Ann. Fam. Med,
January 1, 2010;
8(1):
33 - 39.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. Liem, M. Hengeveld, and F. Koenraadt
Domestic Homicide Followed by Parasuicide: A Comparison With Homicide and Parasuicide
Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol,
October 1, 2009;
53(5):
497 - 516.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
S. Fudalej, M. Ilgen, M. Fudalej, M. Wojnar, H. Matsumoto, K. L. Barry, R. Ploski, and F. C. Blow
Clinical and Genetic Risk Factors for Suicide under the Influence of Alcohol in a Polish Sample
Alcohol Alcohol.,
September 1, 2009;
44(5):
437 - 442.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
G. S. Alexopoulos, C. F. Reynolds III, M. L. Bruce, I. R. Katz, P. J. Raue, B. H. Mulsant, D. W. Oslin, T. Ten Have, and The PROSPECT Group
Reducing Suicidal Ideation and Depression in Older Primary Care Patients: 24-Month Outcomes of the PROSPECT Study
Am J Psychiatry,
August 1, 2009;
166(8):
882 - 890.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. Liem, M. Postulart, and P. Nieuwbeerta
Homicide-Suicide in the Netherlands: An Epidemiology
Homicide Studies,
May 1, 2009;
13(2):
99 - 123.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
N. Purandare, R. C. O. Voshaar, C. Rodway, H. Bickley, A. Burns, and N. Kapur
Suicide in dementia: 9-year national clinical survey in England and Wales
The British Journal of Psychiatry,
February 1, 2009;
194(2):
175 - 180.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
A Erlangsen, V Canudas-Romo, and Y Conwell
Increased use of antidepressants and decreasing suicide rates: a population-based study using Danish register data
J Epidemiol Community Health,
May 1, 2008;
62(5):
448 - 454.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. Olfson, S. C. Marcus, and B. G. Druss
Effects of Food and Drug Administration Warnings on Antidepressant Use in a National Sample
Arch Gen Psychiatry,
January 1, 2008;
65(1):
94 - 101.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
K. Zivin, H. M. Kim, J. F. McCarthy, K. L. Austin, K. J. Hoggatt, H. Walters, and M. Valenstein
Suicide Mortality Among Individuals Receiving Treatment for Depression in the Veterans Affairs Health System: Associations with Patient and Treatment Setting Characteristics
Am J Public Health,
December 1, 2007;
97(12):
2193 - 2198.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
K. Szanto, S. Kalmar, H. Hendin, Z. Rihmer, and J. J. Mann
A Suicide Prevention Program in a Region With a Very High Suicide Rate
Arch Gen Psychiatry,
August 1, 2007;
64(8):
914 - 920.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
H. Oyama, M. Fujita, M. Goto, H. Shibuya, and T. Sakashita
Outcomes of Community-Based Screening for Depression and Suicide Prevention Among Japanese Elders
Gerontologist,
December 1, 2006;
46(6):
821 - 826.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. Olfson, S. C. Marcus, and D. Shaffer
Antidepressant drug therapy and suicide in severely depressed children and adults: a case-control study.
Arch Gen Psychiatry,
August 1, 2006;
63(8):
865 - 872.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
I. M. HUNT, N. KAPUR, J. ROBINSON, J. SHAW, S. FLYNN, H. BAILEY, J. MEEHAN, H. BICKLEY, J. BURNS, L. APPLEBY, et al.
Suicide within 12 months of mental health service contact in different age and diagnostic groups: National clinical survey
The British Journal of Psychiatry,
February 1, 2006;
188(2):
135 - 142.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
A. Dumais, A.D. Lesage, M. Alda, G. Rouleau, M. Dumont, N. Chawky, M. Roy, J.J. Mann, C. Benkelfat, and G. Turecki
Risk Factors for Suicide Completion in Major Depression: A Case-Control Study of Impulsive and Aggressive Behaviors in Men
Am J Psychiatry,
November 1, 2005;
162(11):
2116 - 2124.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
P. Qin and M. Nordentoft
Suicide Risk in Relation to Psychiatric Hospitalization: Evidence Based on Longitudinal Registers
Arch Gen Psychiatry,
April 1, 2005;
62(4):
427 - 432.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
J. P. Loebel
Practical Geriatrics: Completed Suicide in Late Life
Psychiatr Serv,
March 1, 2005;
56(3):
260 - 262.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
H. O'Connell, A.-V. Chin, C. Cunningham, and B. A Lawlor
Recent developments: Suicide in older people
BMJ,
October 16, 2004;
329(7471):
895 - 899.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
E. K. Moscicki and E. D. Caine
Opportunities of Life: Preventing Suicide in Elderly Patients
Arch Intern Med,
June 14, 2004;
164(11):
1171 - 1172.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
D. N. Juurlink, N. Herrmann, J. P. Szalai, A. Kopp, and D. A. Redelmeier
Medical Illness and the Risk of Suicide in the Elderly
Arch Intern Med,
June 14, 2004;
164(11):
1179 - 1184.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
K. L. Knox, Y. Conwell, and E. D. Caine
If Suicide Is a Public Health Problem, What Are We Doing to Prevent It?
Am J Public Health,
January 1, 2004;
94(1):
37 - 45.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
P. Jamieson, K. H. Jamieson, and D. Romer
The Responsible Reporting of Suicide in Print Journalism
American Behavioral Scientist,
August 1, 2003;
46(12):
1643 - 1660.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
B. L. Rollman and M. K. Shear
Depression and Medical Comorbidity: Red Flags for Current Suicidal Ideation in Primary Care
Psychosom Med,
July 1, 2003;
65(4):
506 - 507.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
K. Szanto, B. H. Mulsant, P. Houck, M. A. Dew, and C. F. Reynolds III
Occurrence and Course of Suicidality During Short-term Treatment of Late-Life Depression
Arch Gen Psychiatry,
June 1, 2003;
60(6):
610 - 617.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. Waern
ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE AND MISUSE IN ELDERLY SUICIDES
Alcohol Alcohol.,
May 1, 2003;
38(3):
249 - 254.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. Gould, P. Jamieson, and D. Romer
Media Contagion and Suicide Among the Young
American Behavioral Scientist,
May 1, 2003;
46(9):
1269 - 1284.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
P. Qin, E. Agerbo, and P. B. Mortensen
Suicide Risk in Relation to Socioeconomic, Demographic, Psychiatric, and Familial Factors: A National Register-Based Study of All Suicides in Denmark, 1981-1997
Am J Psychiatry,
April 1, 2003;
160(4):
765 - 772.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
J. Unutzer, W. Katon, C. M. Callahan, J. W. Williams Jr, E. Hunkeler, L. Harpole, M. Hoffing, R. D. Della Penna, P. H. Noel, E. H. B. Lin, et al.
Collaborative Care Management of Late-Life Depression in the Primary Care Setting: A Randomized Controlled Trial
JAMA,
December 11, 2002;
288(22):
2836 - 2845.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
R. C. Abrams, M. Lachs, G. McAvay, D. J. Keohane, and M. L. Bruce
Predictors of Self-Neglect in Community-Dwelling Elders
Am J Psychiatry,
October 1, 2002;
159(10):
1724 - 1730.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
K. Kroenke
A 75-Year-Old Man With Depression
JAMA,
March 27, 2002;
287(12):
1568 - 1576.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. Waern, B. S. Runeson, P. Allebeck, J. Beskow, E. Rubenowitz, I. Skoog, and K. Wilhelmsson
Mental Disorder in Elderly Suicides: A Case-Control Study
Am J Psychiatry,
March 1, 2002;
159(3):
450 - 455.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
D. L. Morris
Geriatric Mental Health: An Overview
Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association,
December 1, 2001;
7(6):
S2 - S7.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
T. Foster
Dying for a drink
BMJ,
October 13, 2001;
323(7317):
817 - 818.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
K. R. Conner, C. Cox, P. R. Duberstein, L. Tian, P. A. Nisbet, and Y. Conwell
Violence, Alcohol, and Completed Suicide: A Case-Control Study
Am J Psychiatry,
October 1, 2001;
158(10):
1701 - 1705.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
L. J. Boothroyd, L. J. Kirmayer, S. Spreng, M. Malus, and S. Hodgins
Completed suicides among the Inuit of northern Quebec, 1982-1996: a case-control study
Can. Med. Assoc. J.,
September 1, 2001;
165(6):
749 - 755.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
R. A. SCHOEVERS, A. T. F. BEEKMAN, W. V. TILBURG, D. J. H. DEEG, C. JONKER, M. I. GEERLINGS, and B. W. J. H. PENNINX
Association of depression and gender with mortality in old age: Results from the Amsterdam Study of the Elderly (AMSTEL)
The British Journal of Psychiatry,
October 1, 2000;
177(4):
336 - 342.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
H. Cattell
Suicide in the elderly
Adv. Psychiatr. Treat.,
March 1, 2000;
6(2):
102 - 108.
[Full Text]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
G. S. Alexopoulos, M. L. Bruce, J. Hull, J. A. Sirey, and T. Kakuma
Clinical Determinants of Suicidal Ideation and Behavior in Geriatric Depression
Arch Gen Psychiatry,
November 1, 1999;
56(11):
1048 - 1053.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
J. J. Gallo and B. D. Lebowitz
The Epidemiology of Common Late-Life Mental Disorders in the Community: Themes for the New Century
Psychiatr Serv,
September 1, 1999;
50(9):
1158 - 1166.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
E. J. Klausner and G. S. Alexopoulos
The Future of Psychosocial Treatments for Elderly Patients
Psychiatr Serv,
September 1, 1999;
50(9):
1198 - 1204.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
B. D. Lebowitz, J. L. Pearson, L. S. Schneider, C. F. Reynolds III, G. S. Alexopoulos, M. L. Bruce, Y. Conwell, I. R. Katz, B. S. Meyers, M. F. Morrison, et al.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Depression in Late Life: Consensus Statement Update
JAMA,
October 8, 1997;
278(14):
1186 - 1190.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|
Get information about faster international access.
a>
Privacy Policy
Copyright © 1996
American Psychiatric Association.
All rights reserved.
Home
| Search
| Current Issue
| Past Issues
| Subscribe
| All APPI Journals
| Help
| Contact Us
|