Related Experiment Videos
Suicide, stressors, and the life cycle
C L Rich1, G M Warstadt, R A Nemiroff
1San Diego VA Medical Center.
The American Journal of Psychiatry
|April 1, 1991
Summary
Suicide stressors vary by age and sex, with older adults experiencing more medical issues and men facing more economic problems. These patterns align with adult development theories.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Gerontology
- Sociology
Background:
- Stressors are known contributors to suicide.
- Life cycle stages may influence the relationship between stressors and suicide risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between suicide, age, and specific stressors.
- To explore variations in stressor patterns across different life stages and sexes.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 204 consecutive suicide cases from the San Diego Suicide Study.
- Data collection through interviews with informants and review of medical/legal records.
- Independent review of life events and stressors by investigators, with DSM-III diagnoses.
Main Results:
- 97% of subjects (202) experienced at least one stressor.
- Common stressors included conflict-separation-rejection, economic problems, and medical illness.
- Medical illness was the predominant stressor in individuals aged 80+; men reported more economic stressors than women.
Conclusions:
- Observed stressor patterns in suicide cases correlate with adult development theories.
- Limitations include the absence of population comparison groups and validated stressor scoring, impacting predictive value.