Background: Despite the high suicide rate among the elderly, there is a relative lack of information on the outcomes for elderly people who have attempt suicide.
Methods: The authors performed a retrospective analysis of 260 elderly suicide cases obs...
Background: Despite the high suicide rate among the elderly, there is a relative lack of information on the outcomes for elderly people who have attempt suicide.
Methods: The authors performed a retrospective analysis of 260 elderly suicide cases observed in the WonKwang University Hospital Emergency Center from January, 1997 to December, 2000.
Results: 1) The male-to-female ratio was 1.71:1. 2) The major cause of the attempt was chronic pain or disease. 3) Poisoning was the most common method of suicidal attempt. 4) The mortality rate was 23.1%.
Conclusion: Chronic pain or disease in the elderly indicates the need for mental health services.