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Cited by 166Suicide and Self-Harm StudiesDementia and Cognitive Impairment ResearchPalliative Care and End-of-Life Issues

Dementia and suicidal behavior: a review of the literature

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Haw, Camilla, Harwood, Daniel, Hawton, Keith·2009·International Psychogeriatrics
DOI 10.1017/s1041610209009065
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: While dementia is more common in older people and suicide rates in many countries are higher among the elderly, there is some doubt about the association between these two phenomena. METHODS: A search of the major relevant databases was carried out to examine the evidence for this possible association. RESULTS: The association between dementia and suicide and also non-fatal self-harm did not appear strong but many studies have significant methodological limitations and there are few studies of suicide or self-harm in vascular, frontotemporal, Lewy body and HIV dementia where such behavior might be expected to be more common. Rates of self-harm may be increased in mild dementia and are higher before than after predictive testing for Huntington's disease. Overall, the risk of suicide in dementia appears to be the same or less than that of the age-matched general population but is increased soon after diagnosis, in patients diagnosed with dementia during hospitalization and in Huntington's disease. Putative risk factors for suicide in dementia include depression, hopelessness, mild cognitive impairment, preserved insight, younger age and failure to respond to anti-dementia drugs. Large, good quality prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings. CONCLUSIONS: Further research should be undertaken to examine how rates of suicide and self-harm change during the course of the illness and vary according to the specific sub-type of dementia.

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Crossref · 10.1017/s1041610209009065

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  • The psychological autopsy method may be poorly suited to study dementia and delirium because their signs and symptoms are less likely to be apparent in community settings to family and proxy informants.

    “The PA method may be poorly suited to the study of dementia and delirium the signs and symptoms of which, particularly early in the course of illness when the patient may be at relatively greater risk (22, 23), are less likely to be apparent in community settings to family members and other proxy informants.”

    From Suicide in older adults (2011) · cites this paper as [23]

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Authors
Haw, C., Harwood, D., & Hawton, K.
Affiliations
  • St Andrew's Healthcare (GB)
  • St Mary's Hospital (GB)
  • Warneford Hospital (GB)
Corresponding author
Haw, Camilla
ORCID
Hawton, Keith
Venue
International Psychogeriatrics
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2009-06
Volume
21
Issue
3
Pages
440-453
ISSN
1041-6102 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1017/s1041610209009065
OpenAlex
W2049670557
Cited by
166
References
131
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 8
FWCI
8.83
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • International Psychogeriatrics (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Vedecká Grantová Agentúra MŠVVaŠ SR a SAV
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues
Keywords
dementia, suicide, self-harm, Huntington's disease, mild cognitive impairment, depression, hopelessness, dementia with Lewy bodies, frontotemporal dementia, vascular dementia, HIV-associated dementia, suicide risk factors, older adults
MeSH terms
Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cognition Disorders, Dementia, Female, Humans, Huntington Disease, Male, Middle Aged, Risk Factors, Suicide, Comorbidity, Prevalence, Self-Injurious Behavior

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