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Do cerebrovascular risk factors confer risk for suicide in later life? A case-control study

Sandra S Chan1, Jeffrey M Lyness, Yeates Conwell

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. schan@cuhk.edu.hk

The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry : Official Journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry
|June 5, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Older adults with higher cerebrovascular risk factors (CVRF) are more likely to die by suicide. This suggests cerebrovascular disease may increase suicide risk in this population.

Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Neuroscience
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • Cerebrovascular pathologies are linked to depression.
  • Understanding late-life suicide risk factors is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between cerebrovascular risk factors (CVRF) and suicide in older adults.
  • To determine if CVRF predict suicide in individuals over 50.

Main Methods:

  • A psychological autopsy study was conducted on community-dwelling adults aged over 50.
  • Cerebrovascular risk factor (CVRF) scores were calculated using American Heart Association criteria for suicide cases and controls.

Main Results:

  • Suicide cases exhibited significantly higher CVRF scores compared to community-dwelling comparison subjects.
  • This finding remained significant after controlling for age, sex, depression diagnosis, and functional status.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated cerebrovascular risk is associated with suicide in older adults.
  • Cerebrovascular disease may contribute to suicide risk through various psychopathological pathways.
Abstract

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