Centre for Policy on Ageing
 

 

Deliberate self-harm in the elderly
Author(s)David Pierce
Journal titleInternational Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, vol 2, no 2, Apr-Jun 1987
Pagespp 105-110
KeywordsSuicide.
AnnotationThis article reviews 145 patients over the age of 65 years seen at a district general hospital after deliberate self-harm between 1973 and 1985. There was no significant change in the numbers seen per year, and they comprised 5.4% of all the hospital's self-harm cases. The male to female ratio was 1:1·5 although the self-harm rates for males and females over 65 in the local population were identical. Fifty-five per cent widowed, over 90% of the patients had depressive conditions, only 3% had an established dementia, and 63% had significant physical illness. Half the patients received inpatient psychiatric treatment. Under 10% of the patients gave a history of earlier self-harm, while both the repetition and suicide rates were very low. These findings are discussed. (KJ).
Accession NumberCPA-930524156
ClassmarkEV

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