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Chang YW, Buerke M, Galfalvy H, Szanto K. Childhood trauma is associated with early-onset but not late-onset suicidal behavior in late-life depression. Int Psychogeriatr 2024; 36:371-384. [PMID: 37642013 PMCID: PMC10902201 DOI: 10.1017/s1041610223000662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To examine the relationship between childhood traumatic experiences and early and late-onset suicidal behavior among depressed older adults. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING Inpatient and outpatient psychiatric services in Pennsylvania. PARTICIPANTS Our sample included 224 adults aged 50+ (M ± SD = 62.5 ± 7.4) recruited into three depressed groups: (1) 84 suicide attempters, (2) 44 suicide ideators, and (3) 58 non-suicidal comparisons, and a non-psychiatric healthy comparison group (N = 38). MEASUREMENTS The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire measured experiences of childhood trauma such as emotional abuse, physical abuse, emotional neglect, physical neglect, and sexual abuse. RESULTS Attempters were separated into early- and late-onset based on age of first attempt using a statistical algorithm that identified a cutoff age of 30 years old. Overall, we found group differences in emotional and physical abuse and neglect in both genders and sexual abuse in females, but not in males. Early-onset attempters experienced more childhood emotional abuse and neglect than late-onset attempters and were more likely to have experienced multiple forms of abuse. They also experienced more emotional abuse and neglect than all comparison groups. Consistently, early-onset attempters more often met criteria for current or lifetime PTSD relative to late-onset attempters and most comparison groups. Late-onset attempters had similar levels of childhood trauma as other depressed groups. CONCLUSIONS Our study reaffirms that there are distinct pathways to suicidal behavior in older adults based on their age of first suicide attempt and that trauma experienced in childhood has long-lasting emotional and behavioral consequences, even into late life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Wen Chang
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Morgan Buerke
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, USA
| | - Hanga Galfalvy
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Katalin Szanto
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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2
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Szanto K, Szücs A, Kenneally LB, Galfalvy HC. Is Late-Onset Suicidal Behavior a Distinct Subtype? Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 2024; 32:622-629. [PMID: 38182486 PMCID: PMC11016379 DOI: 10.1016/j.jagp.2023.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
This clinical viewpoint article aims to draw attention to a yet unexplored factor influencing suicidal behavior: age of onset of suicidal behavior. To tackle the substantial heterogeneity among depressed older attempters, we suggest consideration of at least two distinct pathways to suicidal behavior in late life based on when the first suicidal crisis occurred. Specifically, we discuss the current state of research and the rationale behind the suggested early-late-onset categorization of late-life suicidal behavior. We summarize available evidence so far on early-onset and late-onset attempters, and the potential heterogeneity in the interplay of risk/precipitating factors. Certain risk factors for suicide, such as impulsivity and borderline traits, decrease with age, while memory and broader cognitive impairments increase with age. Research indicates that familial/social exposure to suicidal behavior, childhood trauma, impulsivity, maladaptive personality traits, longstanding interpersonal difficulties, and legal problems are found predominantly in attempters experiencing their first suicidal crisis between youth and early midlife. In contrast, dementia prodrome is one of the most promising but understudied candidates for late-onset suicide risk, especially in the context of other risk factors. Moreover, personality traits conferring increased vulnerability to late-onset suicidal behavior (such as high conscientiousness) are not the same as ones classically identified in younger attempters and in older suicide attempters who have early-onset suicidal behavior (such as neuroticism and Cluster B traits). We discuss methodological points about studying age of onset of suicidal behavior, outline clinical implications, share ideas for future directions, and call for research on this understudied topic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katalin Szanto
- Department of Psychiatry (KS), University of Pittsburgh, PA.
| | - Anna Szücs
- Department of Medicine (AS), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Republic of Singapore; Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences (AZ), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | - Hanga C Galfalvy
- Department of Psychiatry (HCG), Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, NY; Department of Biostatistics (HCG), Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, NY
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3
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Song Y, Chen Q, Wang L. The Effect of Familism Emotions on Post-Traumatic Growth Among the Elderly in China: The Mediating Roles of Taoist Personality and Sense of Community. Psychol Res Behav Manag 2024; 17:641-652. [PMID: 38404924 PMCID: PMC10893792 DOI: 10.2147/prbm.s446550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose Post-traumatic growth is a significant social issue in the management of active aging in elderly people. This study investigates the influence of familism emotions on post-traumatic growth (PTG) of the elderly, and the mediating role of Taoist personality and sense of community (SOC) therein, to provide a scientific basis for the development of positive aging in the elderly. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in several communities of Hubei Province in China. A total of 338 elderly people were investigated with the Familism Emotion Scale, PTG Scale, Taoist Personality Scale and SOC Scale. SPSS 23.0 was used to derive descriptive statistics and conduct a common method bias test, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple stepwise regression analysis. Mplus 7.3 was used for structural equation modeling to test the significance of parallel mediation effects on the data. Results The results show that: (1) Familism emotions, Taoist personality and SOC are positively correlated with PTG; (2) Familism emotions, Taoist personality and SOC can all positively predict PTG in the elderly; (3) Both Taoist personality and SOC partially mediated the link between familism emotions and PTG in the elderly. Conclusion In the context of particularly constraining societal events such as COVID-19, it is necessary to pay careful attention to the impact of external environmental influences upon the elderly, such as family and community, and to encourage elderly people to cultivate a more Taoist personality. The formation of a Taoist personality offers a promising new focus for research in elderly healthcare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yirui Song
- Department of Psychology, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qianqian Chen
- Department of Psychology, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Psychology, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
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Wang C, Keilp JG, Galfalvy H, Bridge JA, Sheftall AH, Szanto K. Entrapment and social problem-solving in suicidal behavior across the adult lifespan. J Affect Disord 2023; 329:176-183. [PMID: 36842650 PMCID: PMC10033364 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.02.099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Feelings of entrapment and deficits in social problem-solving skills have been associated with risk for suicidal behavior in the context of depression. However, few studies have examined the effect of age on the association between these risk factors and suicidal behavior across most of the adult lifespan. METHODS In a three-site study, we tested interactions of age with feelings of entrapment and social problem-solving style in 105 depressed patients with a recent suicide attempt, 95 depressed patients with no history of suicide attempt, and 97 demographically similar non-psychiatric participants (age 16-80). Attempter/non-attempter differences, age interactions, and the relative contribution of entrapment and social problem-solving style to past attempter were examined. RESULTS Entrapment significantly interacted with age such that it discriminated past attempters from depressed non-attempters better at older ages. Social Problem-Solving Inventory (SPSI) total score and most subscales did not distinguish past attempters, but the SPSI Impulsive Style Problem-Solving was an effective discriminator of past suicide attempts across the full adult lifespan and did not interact with age. In a multipredictor model, both the entrapment by age interaction and SPSI Impulsive Style Problem-Solving score were significant predictors for the classification of attempters. LIMITATIONS The cross-sectional nature of our research design limited conclusions that may be drawn about individual change over time or cohort effects. CONCLUSIONS Entrapment did not distinguish past attempters at younger ages but became a better discriminator in middle to late adulthood. An impulsive problem-solving style was associated with past suicide attempts across the full adult lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Wang
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - J G Keilp
- Columbia University, Department of Psychiatry, New York, NY, USA; Columbia University, Department of Biostatistics, New York, NY, USA; New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - H Galfalvy
- Columbia University, Department of Psychiatry, New York, NY, USA; Columbia University, Department of Biostatistics, New York, NY, USA; New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - J A Bridge
- The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's and The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry & Behavioral Health, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - A H Sheftall
- University of Rochester Medical Center, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Department of Psychiatry, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - K Szanto
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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5
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Galfalvy H, Szücs A, Chang YW, Buerke M, Szanto K. Long-Term Suicidal Ideation Profiles in Late-Life Depression and Their Association With Suicide Attempt or Death by Suicide. J Clin Psychiatry 2023; 84:22m14469. [PMID: 36791367 PMCID: PMC10026371 DOI: 10.4088/jcp.22m14469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Objective: In young and middle-aged adults, suicidal ideation is an important predictor of prospective suicide attempts, but its predictive power in late life remains unclear. In this study, we used Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) in a cohort of depressed older adults to identify distinct ideation profiles and their clinical correlates and test their association with risk of suicidal behavior longitudinally. Methods: A total of 337 depressed older adults (aged 50-93 years) were assessed for suicidal ideation and behavior for up to 14 years (median = 3 years), at least once per year (study period: 2002-2020). LPA was used, which derived 4 profiles of ideation scores based on subject-level aggregates. Groups were compared using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and χ2 tests at baseline and competing risk survival analysis during follow-up. Results: Ideation showed significant decline over time, on average (P < .001). LPA identified 4 suicidal ideation profiles. Risk of suicide attempt/death was higher for chronic severe ideators (age-adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = 5.75; 95% CI, 2.25-14.7; P < .001) and highly variable ideators (HR = 3.21; 95% CI, 1.03-10.1; P = .045) compared to fast-remitting ideators, despite comparable current ideation severity at baseline. Fast-remitting ideators had higher risk than low/non-ideators with no attempts or suicides (P < .001). Chronic severe ideators displayed the most severe dysfunction across personality, social characteristics, and impulsivity measures, whereas highly variable and fast-remitting ideators displayed specific deficits. Conclusions: Assessing suicidal ideation over months/years has clinical relevance, as it enabled the identification of distinct ideation patterns associated with substantive differences in clinical presentation and risk of future suicidal behavior despite similar ideation levels at baseline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanga Galfalvy
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York
- Department of Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York
- Corresponding author: Hanga Galfalvy, PhD, New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Dr, Unit 48, New York, NY, 10032
| | - Anna Szücs
- Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ya-Wen Chang
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Morgan Buerke
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi
| | - Katalin Szanto
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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Ranning A, Uddin MJ, Sørensen HJ, Laursen TM, Thorup AAE, Madsen T, Nordentoft M, Erlangsen A. Intergenerational transmission of suicide attempt in a cohort of 4.4 million children. Psychol Med 2022; 52:3202-3209. [PMID: 33827720 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291720005310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The association between suicide attempts (SAs) in parents and children is unclear, and risk indicators for intergenerational transmission remain undocumented. We aimed to assess this association, considering the child's developmental period at the time of parents' attempted suicide, and the parental relation. METHODS Using a prospective cohort design, nationwide population data were linked to the Psychiatric Central Register and National Patient Register for all individuals aged 10 years or older living in Denmark between 1980 and 2016. We assessed incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and cumulative hazards for children's first SA. RESULTS In a cohort of 4 419 651 children, 163 056 (3.7%) had experienced a parental SA. An SA was recorded among 6996 (4.3%) of the exposed children as opposed to 70112 (1.6%) in unexposed individuals. Higher rates were noted when a parental SA occurred during early childhood (0 ⩽ age < 2) [IRR, 4.7; 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.2-5.4] v. late childhood (6 ⩽ age < 13) (IRR, 3.6; 95% CI 3.4-3.8) when compared to those unexposed. Children exposed prior to age 2 had the highest rates of all sub-groups when reaching age 13-17 (IRR, 6.5; 95% CI 6.0-7.1) and 18-25 years (IRR, 6.8; 95% CI 6.2-7.4). Maternal SA (IRR, 3.4; 95% CI 3.2-3.5) was associated with higher rates than paternal (IRR, 2.8; 95% CI 2.7-2.9). CONCLUSION Parental SA was associated with children's own SA. Exposure during early developmental stages was associated with the highest rates. Early preventive efforts are warranted as is monitoring of suicide risk in the children from age 13.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Ranning
- Copenhagen Research Center for Mental Health, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Danish Research Institute for Suicide Prevention, Mental Health Centre Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Md Jamal Uddin
- Copenhagen Research Center for Mental Health, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Statistics, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh
| | | | - Thomas Munk Laursen
- National Center for Register-based Research, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Anne A E Thorup
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Center, Capital Region of Denmark, Denmark
| | - Trine Madsen
- Copenhagen Research Center for Mental Health, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Merete Nordentoft
- Copenhagen Research Center for Mental Health, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Danish Research Institute for Suicide Prevention, Mental Health Centre Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Annette Erlangsen
- Danish Research Institute for Suicide Prevention, Mental Health Centre Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Center of Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
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7
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Buerke M, Galfalvy H, Keilp J, Sheftall A, Burke A, Bridge J, Mann J, Szanto K. Age effects on clinical and neurocognitive risk factors for suicide attempt in depression - Findings from the AFSP lifespan study. J Affect Disord 2021; 295:123-130. [PMID: 34425314 PMCID: PMC8551053 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies of risk factors for suicidal behavior are typically restricted to narrow age ranges, making it difficult to determine if they have the same relevance or potency across the full adult lifespan. METHODS This study examined selected clinical and neurocognitive risk factors for suicidal behavior - borderline personality traits, aggression, depressive rumination, memory performance, and language fluency- in a multi-site sample (N = 309, ages 16-80) of depressed patients with a recent (last 5 years) suicide attempt or no history of attempt, and demographically similar non-psychiatric controls. We examined cross-sectional age and attempter/non-attempter differences on these risk factors, and whether certain risk factors were more prominent discriminators of past suicide attempt earlier or later in the lifespan. Correlations with age were computed, and logistic regression was used to classify attempter status based on each risk factor and its interaction with age. RESULTS Nearly all risk factors were negatively correlated with age. Borderline traits, aggression, memory, and category fluency each predicted attempter status (p < 0.05), but these effects were not different across ages. In contrast, the association between rumination and suicide attempt status differed across the lifespan, becoming a stronger discriminator of past suicidal behavior at older ages. LIMITATIONS The cross-sectional design limits our developmental findings. CONCLUSIONS Despite age-related changes in symptom severity or neurocognitive performance, key risk factors for suicidal behavior previously identified in studies with more restricted age-ranges are salient throughout the adult lifespan. In contrast, depressive rumination may be particularly salient in later life.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Buerke
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - H. Galfalvy
- Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, Department of Psychiatry, New York, NY, USA,New York State Psychiatric Institute, Department of Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology, New York, NY, USA
| | - J. Keilp
- Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, Department of Psychiatry, New York, NY, USA,New York State Psychiatric Institute, Department of Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology, New York, NY, USA
| | - A. Sheftall
- Ohio State University College of Medicine, Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry & Behavioral Health, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - A. Burke
- Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, Department of Psychiatry, New York, NY, USA,New York State Psychiatric Institute, Department of Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology, New York, NY, USA
| | - J. Bridge
- Ohio State University College of Medicine, Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry & Behavioral Health, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - J. Mann
- Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, Department of Psychiatry, New York, NY, USA,New York State Psychiatric Institute, Department of Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology, New York, NY, USA
| | - K. Szanto
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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8
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Hedna K, Hensing G, Skoog I, Fastbom J, Waern M. Sociodemographic and gender determinants of late-life suicide in users and non-users of antidepressants. Eur J Public Health 2021; 30:958-964. [PMID: 32653913 PMCID: PMC7536256 DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckaa114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The treatment of depression is a main strategy for suicide prevention in older adults. Our aim was to examine factors related to suicide in older adults (75+) with and without antidepressant (AD) therapy. Methods A national population-based register study, including all Swedish residents aged ≥75 years between 2006 and 2014 (N = 1 413 806). A nested case–control design was used to investigate sociodemographic factors associated with suicide among users and non-users of ADs. Risk estimates were calculated in adjusted conditional logistic regression models for the entire cohort and by gender. Results In all, 1305 individuals died by suicide (70% men). The suicide rate in men who used ADs was over four times higher than women with such treatment. Being unmarried was a risk factor for suicide in men but not in women. Being born outside of Nordic countries was associated with increased suicide risk; a 3-fold risk increase was observed in non-Nordic women without AD treatment. Lower suicide risk was observed in blue-collar women who used ADs, whereas a higher risk was found in blue-collar men who did not. Conclusions Our differential findings on factors associated with suicide can offer clues for gender-specific preventive strategies that go beyond the healthcare sphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khedidja Hedna
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, AgeCap Center, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Statistikkonsulterna Jostat & Mr Sample AB, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Gunnel Hensing
- Section of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ingmar Skoog
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, AgeCap Center, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Cognition and Old Age Psychiatry Clinic, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Johan Fastbom
- Aging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Margda Waern
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, AgeCap Center, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Psychosis Clinic, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Västra Götaland, Sweden
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9
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Perry M, Buerke M, Szücs A, Allen TA, Bruine de Bruin W, Szanto K, Dombrovski A. A lifetime of challenges: real-life decision outcomes in early- and late-onset suicide attempters. JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS REPORTS 2021; 4:100105. [PMID: 34109322 PMCID: PMC8186299 DOI: 10.1016/j.jadr.2021.100105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND People who have attempted suicide display suboptimal decision-making in the lab. Yet, it remains unclear whether these difficulties tie in with other detrimental outcomes in their lives besides suicidal behavior. We hypothesize that this is more likely the case for individuals who first attempted suicide earlier than later in life. METHODS A cross-sectional case-control study of 310 adults aged ≥ 50 years (mean: 63.9), compared early- and late-onset attempters (first attempt < 55 vs. ≥ 55 years of age) to suicide ideators, non-suicidal depressed controls and non-psychiatric healthy controls. Participants reported potentially avoidable negative decision outcomes across their lifetime, using the Decision Outcome Inventory (DOI). We employed multi-level modeling to examine group differences overall, and in three factor-analytically derived domains labeled Acting Out, Lack of Future Planning, and Hassles. RESULTS Psychopathology predicted worse decision outcomes overall, and in the more serious Acting Out and Lack of Future Planning domains, but not in Hassles. Early-onset attempters experienced more negative outcomes than other groups overall, in Lack of Future Planning, and particularly in Acting Out. Late-onset attempters were similar to depressed controls and experienced fewer Acting out outcomes than ideators. LIMITATIONS The cross-sectional design precluded prospective prediction of attempts. The assessment of negative outcomes may have lacked precision due to recall bias. CONCLUSIONS Whereas early-onset suicidal behavior is likely the manifestation of long-lasting decision-making deficits in several serious aspects of life, late-onset cases appear to function similarly to non-suicidal depressed adults, suggesting that their attempt originates from a more isolated crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Perry
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - M. Buerke
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - A. Szücs
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - T. A. Allen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - W. Bruine de Bruin
- Department of Public Policy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - K. Szanto
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - A.Y. Dombrovski
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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10
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Lin C, Huang CM, Karim HT, Liu HL, Lee TMC, Wu CW, Toh CH, Tsai YF, Yen TH, Lee SH. Greater white matter hyperintensities and the association with executive function in suicide attempters with late-life depression. Neurobiol Aging 2021; 103:60-67. [PMID: 33845397 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2020.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2020] [Revised: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Late-life depression (LLD) is associated with greater risk of suicide and white matter hyperintensities (WMH), which are also found in suicide attempters regardless of age. Greater periventricular WMH are related to worse cognitive function. We investigated the spatial distribution of WMH in suicide attempters with LLD and its association with cognitive function. We recruited 114 participants with LLD (34 with history of suicide attempt and 80 without) and 47 older adult controls (individuals without LLD or history of suicide attempt). WMH were quantified by an automated segmentation algorithm and were classified into different regions. Suicide attempters with LLD had significantly higher global WMH (F3, 150 = 2.856, p = 0.039) and periventricular WMH (F3, 150 = 3.635, p = 0.014) compared to other groups. Suicide attempters with high WMH had significantly lower executive function, which could be an underlying mechanism for cognitive decline in older adults with suicidality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chemin Lin
- Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan; College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan County, Taiwan; Community Medicine Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Mao Huang
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Helmet T Karim
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Ho-Ling Liu
- Department of Imaging Physics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Tatia Mei-Chun Lee
- Laboratory of Neuropsychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Changwei W Wu
- Brain and Consciousness Research Center, Shuang-Ho Hospital, New Taipei, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Mind, Brain and Consciousness, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Cheng Hong Toh
- Department of Medical Imaging and Intervention, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan County, Taiwan
| | - Yun-Fang Tsai
- School of Nursing, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan City, Taiwan; Department of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Tao-Yuan City, Taiwan
| | - Tzung-Hai Yen
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan County, Taiwan; Department of Nephrology and Clinical Poison Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taiwan
| | - Shwu-Hua Lee
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan County, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan County, Taiwan.
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11
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What are the sociodemographic and gender determinants of non-fatal self-harm in older adult users and non-users of antidepressants? A national population-based study. BMC Public Health 2020; 20:764. [PMID: 32539817 PMCID: PMC7296708 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-020-08892-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Late-life self-harm (SH) is often linked to depression. However, very few studies have explored the role of other factors and their interaction with depression in the occurrence of late-life SH. The objective of this research was to examine sociodemographic and gender factors associated with non-fatal SH, in older adults with and without antidepressant therapy. METHODS We used national longitudinal register data from a total cohort of all Swedish residents aged ≥75 years between 2006 and 2014 (N = 1,413,806). Using personal identity numbers, we linked individuals' data from numerous national registers. We identified all those with at least one episode of non-fatal self-harm (regardless of level of intent to die) and matched 50 controls to each case. A nested case-control design was used to investigate sociodemographic factors associated with non-fatal SH in the total cohort and among antidepressant users and non-users. Risk factors were analysed in adjusted conditional logistic regression models for the entire cohort and by gender. RESULTS In all, 2242 individuals had at least one episode of a non-fatal SH (980 men and 1262 women). Being unmarried was a risk factor for non-fatal SH in men but not in women. Among users of antidepressants, higher non-fatal SH risk was observed in those born outside the Nordic countries (IRR: 1.44; 95% CI: 1.11-1.86), whereas in AD non-users increased risk was seen in those from Nordic countries other than Sweden (IRR: 1.58; 95% CI: 1.08-2.29). Antidepressant users with higher education had an increased risk of non-fatal SH (IRR: 1.34; 95% CI: 1.12-1.61), in both men and women. CONCLUSIONS Foreign country of birth was associated with increased risk for non-fatal SH in older adults with and without AD therapies. Being married was a protective factor for non-fatal SH in men. The complex association between sociodemographic factors and use of antidepressants in the occurrence of self-harm in older men and women indicates the need for multifaceted tailored preventive strategies including healthcare and social services alike.
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