Deliberate self-harm in people aged 60 years and over: characteristics and outcome of a 20-year cohort

International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
K Hawton, Louise Harriss

Abstract

Little information is available about older deliberate self-harm (DSH) patients and their outcome. This study is a prospective investigation and follow-up of 730 consecutive patients (459 females and 271 males) aged 60 years and over who presented to a general hospital following DSH over a 20-year period, 1978-1997. Outcome has been examined in terms of repetition of DSH, and deaths by the end of 2000 identified through official death registers. DSH involved self-poisoning in 88.6% of cases, 49.3% of the overdoses including paracetamol (acetaminophen), 24.0% minor tranquillizers, and 15.9% antidepressants. Nearly three-quarters of episodes involved high suicidal intent. Common problems preceding DSH were physical illness (46.1%), social isolation (33.5%), relationship problems with family (29.4%) or partner (25.9%), and bereavement or loss (16.7%). Repetition of DSH occurred in 15.3% of cases, 8.2% in the first year following DSH. By the end of 2000, 432/661 (65.4%) of traced patients had died. There were 30 suicides and open verdicts, which were 49 times and 33 times more frequent respectively than expected from general population death rates. Prior DSH before initial presentation was the main risk factor for suicide, with som...Continue Reading

References

Jun 1, 1985·Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica·D P Forster, C E Frost
Nov 1, 1984·The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science·G E Langley, N N Bayatti
Nov 5, 1997·The Psychiatric Clinics of North America·Y Conwell
Jul 1, 1997·The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science·J Hepple, C Quinton
Mar 31, 1998·The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science·K HawtonA Bond
Aug 29, 2000·International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry·D M HarwoodR Jacoby
Jan 3, 2001·The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science·C HawE Townsend
May 2, 2001·The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science·K R LinsleyT P Kelly
Aug 17, 2001·Medicine, Science, and the Law·E SalibS Cawley
Jun 8, 2002·BMJ : British Medical Journal·Margda WaernP Allebeck
Jul 4, 2002·International Psychogeriatrics·Stephen TicehurstJane Fryer
Aug 17, 2002·Biological Psychiatry·Yeates ConwellEric D Caine
Sep 3, 2002·The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science·David OwensAllan House
May 14, 2003·BMJ : British Medical Journal·Keith HawtonJonathan Deeks
Jun 5, 2003·The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science·Keith HawtonRosamund Weatherall
Jul 17, 1965·British Medical Journal·D PARKIN, E STENGEL
Jun 16, 2004·Archives of Internal Medicine·David N JuurlinkDonald A Redelmeier
Jul 3, 2004·The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science·Daniel Louis Zahl, Keith Hawton
Jan 5, 2005·The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science·Louise HarrissDaniel Zahl
Jan 29, 2005·British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology·K HawtonN Kapur

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Aug 19, 2010·International Psychogeriatrics·Paul CorcoranElla Arensman
Sep 17, 2010·International Psychogeriatrics·C W RitchieM Blanchard
Sep 21, 2007·Aging & Mental Health·M S DennisT Friedman
Apr 23, 2009·Age and Ageing·Martin W DoakW Stephen Waring
Oct 2, 2008·Archives of Suicide Research : Official Journal of the International Academy for Suicide Research·Stacey Freedenthal
Dec 14, 2011·The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science·Elizabeth MurphyJayne Cooper
Nov 27, 2015·Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology·Madiha MajidRachel Upthegrove
Mar 10, 2016·Asian Journal of Psychiatry·Thilini RajapakseKathleen Margaret Griffiths
May 12, 2010·Journal of the Chinese Medical Association : JCMA·Chen-Chang Yang
Jan 25, 2013·The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry : Official Journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry·Johanna MorinMargda Waern
Nov 4, 2011·The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry : Official Journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry·Bonnie PurcellPaul R Duberstein
Mar 12, 2010·The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry : Official Journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry·Marta MiretJosé Luis Ayuso-Mateos
Nov 28, 2009·Journal of Affective Disorders·Barbara StanleyJ John Mann
Jan 13, 2009·General Hospital Psychiatry·Elfi AntretterChristian Haring
Jan 16, 2009·International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry·Jameson K HirschJürgen Unützer
Jan 20, 2009·Suicide & Life-threatening Behavior·Keith Hawton, Louise Harriss
Mar 18, 2016·Archives of Suicide Research : Official Journal of the International Academy for Suicide Research·Jussi JokinenMats Samuelsson
Aug 12, 2015·Psychiatry Research·Heather T SchattenMichael F Armey
Feb 7, 2012·Forensic Science International : Synergy·Adrienne RivlinKeith Hawton
Dec 15, 2010·Journal of Affective Disorders·J StefanssonJ Jokinen
Jul 1, 2016·International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry·Rebecca MitchellJacqueline Close
Apr 1, 2009·Journal of Applied Gerontology : the Official Journal of the Southern Gerontological Society·Myra SabirKarl Pillemer
May 30, 2009·American Journal of Men's Health·Timothy SchmutteLarry Davidson
Jan 27, 2017·Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing·L DoyleM P Treacy
Mar 30, 2017·International Psychogeriatrics·Gary CheungFrederick Sundram
Jan 16, 2007·Crisis·Keith HawtonLouise Harriss
Dec 1, 2017·Crisis·Celine LarkinElla Arensman
Sep 16, 2017·Crisis·Leo SherMaria A Oquendo
Feb 23, 2010·Journal of the Chinese Medical Association : JCMA·Yu-Hui HuChun-I Huang
Feb 23, 2019·The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science·M Isabela TroyaCarolyn A Chew-Graham
Apr 2, 2019·International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry·Timothy SchmutteSteven C Marcus
Jan 21, 2020·The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry·Mariann JacksonGregory Carter
Nov 15, 2013·British Journal of Community Nursing·Rona Dury
Apr 2, 2019·General Hospital Psychiatry·Timothy SchmutteSteven C Marcus
Jun 12, 2021·Asia-Pacific Psychiatry : Official Journal of the Pacific Rim College of Psychiatrists·Carlos Augusto de Mendonça LimaIgor Svab

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.