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

Determinants of suicidal behavior in dementia: A Swedish national register-based study

OBJECTIVES

To examine predictors of suicidal behavior (SB) in adults aged 75 years and above with dementia.

DESIGN

Longitudinal national register-based study.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

Swedish residents aged ≥75 years with dementia identified in the Swedish Dementia Registry (SveDem) between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2017 (N = 59 042) and followed until 31 December 2018. Data were linked with numerous national registers using personal identity numbers.

MEASUREMENTS

Outcomes were nonfatal self-harm and suicide. Fine and Gray regression models were used to investigate demographics, comorbidities, and psychoactive medications associated with fatal and nonfatal SB.

RESULTS

Suicidal behavior was observed in 160 persons after dementia diagnosis; 29 of these died by suicide. Adjusted sub-hazard ratio (aSHRs) for SB was increased in those who had a previous episode of self-harm (aSHR = 14.42; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 7.06-29.46), those with serious depression (aSHR = 4.33, 95%CI = 2.94-6.4), and in those born outside Sweden (aSHR = 1.53; 95% CI = 1.03-2.27). Use of hypnotics or anxiolytics was also associated with a higher risk of SB; use of antidepressants was not. Milder dementia and higher frailty score also increased risk of SB. Risk was decreased in those who received home care (aSHR = 0.52; 95%CI = 0.38-0.71) and in the oldest group (aSHR = 0.35; 95%CI = 0.25-0.49).

CONCLUSION

In addition to established targets for suicidal behavior prevention (improved identification and treatment of depression and previous self-harm), several new risk factors were suggested. There is a need for innovative public health strategies to meet the needs of older dementia patients with a foreign background. Home care may have a potential positive effect to prevent SB in people with dementia, but this needs to be further explored.

Healthcare visits for mental disorders and use of psychotropic medications before and after self-harm in a cohort aged 75

OBJECTIVES

Non-fatal self-harm (SH) is a major risk factor for late-life suicide. A better knowledge of the clinical management of older adults who self-harm is needed to establish where improvements could be made for the implementation of effective suicide prevention interventions. We therefore assessed contacts with primary and specialised care for mental disorders and psychotropic drug use during the year before and after a late-life non-fatal SH episode.

METHOD

Longitudinal population-based study in adults aged ≥75 years with SH episode between 2007 and 2015 retrieved from the regional database VEGA. Healthcare contacts for mental disorders and psychotropic use were assessed during the year before and after the index SH episode.

RESULTS

There were 659 older adults who self-harmed. During the year before SH, 33.7% had primary care contacts with a mental disorder, 27.8% had such contacts in specialised care. Use of specialised care increased sharply after the SH, reaching a maximum of 68.9%, but this figure dropped to 19.5% by the end of the year. Use of antidepressants increased from 41% before to 60% after the SH episode. Use of hypnotics was extensive before and after SH (60%). Psychotherapy was rare in both primary and specialised care.

CONCLUSION

The use of specialised care for mental disorders and antidepressant prescribing increased after SH. The drop in long-term healthcare visits should be further explored to align primary and specialised healthcare to the needs of older adults who self-harmed. The psychosocial support of older adults with common mental disorders needs to be strengthened.

Suicidal behaviour in older age: A systematic review of risk factors associated to suicide attempts and completed suicides

In older age, several observational studies investigated risk factors for suicide attempts/completed suicides; however, contrasting evidence came from population-based setting. In the present systematic review, we described through a narrative synthesis the significant associations existing among risk factors and suicide attempts/completed suicides in subjects aged >65 years. From the 39 population-based studies selected in six different databases until February 15, 2021, we analyzed the most frequent 28 risk factors for suicidal behaviour. The risk factors more associated to suicide attempts than other variables frequently related to suicidal behavior in older age were: depressive disorders, methods employed to self-harm (particularly poisoning), and psychotropic drug utilization followed by psychological factors and disability. Moreover, male sex, violent methods to self-harm, any psychiatric disorder (depression, anxiety and bipolar disorders), a poor medical condition, stressors/bereavement, and living alone appeared to be more significant for predicting completed suicides in late life. In older age, efforts for suicide prevention should be based on strategies to assess and treat psychiatric disorders along with psychological interventions, particularly in males.