Suicide in the elderly: a 37-years retrospective study.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Forensic Medicine

Background:

• Suicide rates significantly increase with age, posing a public health concern.
• In Italy, individuals over 60 represent a substantial portion of suicide deaths, with a growing elderly population.
• Suicide is a notable risk factor within the elderly demographic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the trends and characteristics of suicide in individuals over 60 years of age.
• To identify risk factors associated with suicide in the elderly population.
• To analyze suicide methods employed by older adults.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study analyzing autopsy and police reports of suicides from 1979 to 2015.
• Data collected from the Archives of Legal Medicine at the University of Parma, Italy.
• Assessment of trends and characteristics including age, sex, marital status, pathology, and suicide method.

Main Results:

• A total of 538 cases were identified, with a male-to-female ratio of 2.74:1.
• The highest suicide risk was observed in the 70-79 age group, with mental illness being a significant factor.
• Hanging was the most common method, followed by falls from height and drowning, with gender-based differences in method selection.

Conclusions:

• Suicidal behavior in the elderly results from a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors.
• Chronic diseases and psychological suffering are strong motivators for suicide in men, while mental state, particularly depression, is a key risk for women.
• Age-related changes, cognitive deficits, and common illnesses contribute to depressive characteristics, increasing suicide risk.