[Suicide attempts in old age - a follow-up study (author's transl)].

Abstract

48 patients above the age of 55 years were seen in a follow-up study 8 1/2 months after having been admitted to an emergency ward following a suicide attempt. Somewhat more frequent than in young persons the suicide attempts were caused by depressive or schizophrenic psychosis. Nevertheless, with the elderly the most frequent diagnosis was depressive reaction and neurosis. Physical illness was overrepresented in our group, but only in some cases fear of being ill was justified by the real physical status. Such cognitive dissonances were also found to concern the subjective valuation of the social situation. Some of the patients were satisfied with their living conditions though they were actually isolated. On the other hand patients with a high rate of social contacts sometimes complained of loneliness. A real social isolation of old people having attempted suicide seemed to be more rare than expected. Finally we found that the elderly chose different ways to seeking help from social and medical services in comparison to younger people. The personal tie to the doctor was of great importance for this group. - During the time of investigation only one patient had attempted suicide once more. But many of the patients were continuously reconsidering committing suicide.