Suicide related factors in the elderly

A systematic review

Abstract

Background: Depression is a disease prevalent in most older people and is negatively associated with suicidal ideation and behaviour in the elderly. The objective of this systematic review was to study the relationship between suicidal behaviour and the associated risk factors that lead older people to commit it.

Methods: We searched systematically in the PubMed, Web of Science, SciELO and CUIDEN database, in addition, we used a search engine, Google Scholar, including studies when they were observational, with population of 60 years or more, whose patients had made any suicide attempt and instead were excluded when the participants were children or adolescents, reported cases of homicide or only reported the methods used in the suicide. The search was not delimited based on filters or time periods. The data is presented based on Odds Ratio, Relative Risk and percentage (%).

Results: Eighteen studies were included in this systematic review. Various factors associated with the appearance of suicidal behaviour in the elderly were reported, the following are the most relevant: serious mental disorders (mean OR/RR value of 157.80); depression (mean OR/RR value of 16.53); and previous suicide attempts (average OR/RR value of 12.33).

Conclusions: Pathological, sociodemographic and psychosocial factors related to the ideation and appearance of suicidal behaviour in the elderly have been differentiated.