Narcissistic crises of aging and suicidal despair
Abstract
After reviewing some of the dangers inherent in oversimplifying the nature of suicide for public education purposes, a model (the “wedding‐cake model”) of elderly suicide is outlined. This model is derived from a community‐based psychological autopsy study. It is hypothesized that elderly persons who die by suicide have a lifelong character fault that remains invisible until aging life‐changes force the issue into the open.
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Suicidal elders have been characterized as timid and seclusive, hostile, rigid, and with an independent style.
“Suicidal elders have been characterized as timid and seclusive (47), hostile, rigid and with an independent style (47, 48).”
From Suicide in older adults (2011) · cites this paper as [48]
Cites
Completed suicide at age 50 and over
Conwell, Y., Rotenberg, M., & Caine, E. D. (1990) · Journal of the American Geriatrics Society · doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.1990.tb01422.x · Cited by 204 · see citing works
Meehan, M. C. (1967) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.1967.03130080086043 · Cited by 69 · see citing works
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Conwell, Y., Van Orden, K., & Caine, E. D. (2011) · Psychiatric Clinics of North America · doi:10.1016/j.psc.2011.02.002 · Cited by 555 · see citing works
Epidemiology of completed and attempted suicide: toward a framework for prevention
Mościcki, E. K. (2001) · Clinical Neuroscience Research · doi:10.1016/s1566-2772(01)00032-9 · Cited by 359 · see citing works
Conwell, Y., & Thompson, C. (2008) · Psychiatric Clinics of North America · doi:10.1016/j.psc.2008.01.004 · Cited by 333 · see citing works
Openness to experience and completed suicide across the second half of life
Duberstein, P. R. (1995) · International Psychogeriatrics · doi:10.1017/s1041610295001967 · Cited by 104 · see citing works
Kjølseth, I., Ekeberg, Ø., & Steihaug, S. (2009) · International Psychogeriatrics · doi:10.1017/s1041610209990342 · Cited by 89 · see citing works
Adapting interpersonal psychotherapy for older adults at risk for suicide: Preliminary findings
Heisel, M. J., Duberstein, P. R., Talbot, N. L., King, D. A., & Tu, X. M. (2009) · Professional Psychology: Research and Practice · doi:10.1037/a0014731 · Cited by 72 · see citing works
Narcissistic Personality Disorder: Progress in Recognition and Treatment
Ronningstam, E., & Weinberg, I. (2013) · Focus · doi:10.1176/appi.focus.11.2.167 · Cited by 50 · see citing works
- Authors
- Clark, D. C.
- Affiliations
- Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center (US)
- Corresponding author
- Clark, David C.
- Venue
- Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 1993-03
- Volume
- 23
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 21-26
- ISSN
- 0363-0234 (ISSN-L)
- 1943-278X
- OpenAlex
- W2157149194
- Cited by
- 76
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2021: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 5.52
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Homicide, Infanticide, and Child Abuse
- Keywords
- elderly suicide, aging, narcissism, psychological autopsy, character defects, suicide prevention
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Aging, Character, Female, Humans, Identity Crisis, Male, Middle Aged, Narcissism, Personality Development, Risk Factors
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