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Suicide in psychiatric patients: age distribution
Suicide & Life-Threatening Behavior
|January 1, 1984
Summary
Over eight years, San Diego County saw 21,183 suicides. Older psychiatric patients showed a lower suicide rate increase compared to the general population, suggesting treatment responsiveness.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Public Health
- Gerontology
Background:
- Suicide remains a significant public health concern, particularly among aging populations.
- Understanding risk factors and treatment efficacy in different demographic groups is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare suicide rates across age groups in San Diego County residents.
- To investigate the suicide rate trends among patients of a private psychiatric group in relation to age.
- To determine if older psychiatric patients exhibit different suicide rate patterns compared to the general older population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of suicide data for San Diego County residents over an eight-year period.
- Identification of suicides among patients treated by a specific private psychiatric group.
- Comparative statistical analysis of suicide rates by age for the general population versus psychiatric patients.
Main Results:
- A total of 21,183 suicides were recorded in San Diego County over eight years.
- Fifty-two of these individuals were identified as past patients of the private psychiatric group.
- The suicide rate increased with age in the general county population but not significantly in the psychiatric patient cohort.
Conclusions:
- The study highlights a significant difference in age-related suicide rate trends between the general population and psychiatric patients.
- Older psychiatric patients may be more responsive to mental health interventions, potentially mitigating age-associated suicide risk.
- These findings underscore the importance of accessible and effective psychiatric care for older adults.
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