[Causes, motivations and tendencies of suicidal acts in old age (author's transl)]

The conditioning problems of suicidal acts of aged people were described by demonstrating the results of investigations in 125 patients (over 65 years). The control group consisted of 3004 suicidal patients below 65 years. Depression has been the prevailing psychiatric diagnosis (50% in contrast to 33% in the control group). 24% of the patients alleged conflicts with partners or other relatives as a motivation for the suicidal act. Fear of somatic illness or social isolation follows next. It is remarkable that vocational or economical conflicts were not mentioned. At last prevention problems were discussed. The need for modifying the attitude toward the aged was stressed.