Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Elderly suicide: a 10-year retrospective study.

A T Bennett1, K A Collins

  • 1Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Pathology, Charleston 29425, USA.

The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology
|June 8, 2001
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

A resonant sextuplet of sub-Neptunes transiting the bright star HD 110067.

Nature·2023
Same author

A nearby transiting rocky exoplanet that is suitable for atmospheric investigation.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2021
Same author

Ketamine for rapid reduction of suicidal ideation: a randomized controlled trial.

Psychological medicine·2015
Same author

Regulation of neural responses to emotion perception by ketamine in individuals with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder.

Translational psychiatry·2015
Same author

Views and experiences of using integrated care pathways (ICPs) for caring for people in the last days to hours of life: results from a cross-sectional survey of UK professionals.

BMJ supportive & palliative care·2015
Same author

Why do hospital mastectomy rates vary? Differences in the decision-making experiences of women with breast cancer.

British journal of cancer·2011

Elderly suicide rates are rising, with older adults being more successful. This study analyzed 78 elderly suicides (65+) from 1988-1997, finding firearms were the most common method.

Area of Science:

  • Forensic Pathology
  • Gerontology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Suicide rates in individuals aged 65 and older have shown an increasing trend since 1980.
  • Elderly individuals attempt suicide less frequently than younger populations but exhibit higher success rates.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To retrospectively analyze suicide cases among individuals aged 65 and older.
  • To identify demographic characteristics and methods used in elderly suicides.

Main Methods:

  • Review of 78 suicide cases aged 65+ referred to the Forensic Pathology Section (1988-1997).
  • Analysis included age, race, sex, method, time of year, toxicology, psychiatric, social, and medical history, and presence of a suicide note.
  • Cases underwent autopsy (41%) or external examination (59%).

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • Victims ranged from 65 to 94 years, with an average age of 73.
  • Males constituted 85% and whites 94% of the victims.
  • Firearm use was the predominant method (80.7%), followed by overdose (6.4%) and hanging (3.8%).

Conclusions:

  • Firearms are the most common method of suicide among the elderly in this population.
  • Understanding demographic patterns and methods is crucial for targeted suicide prevention strategies in older adults.