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Cited by 725Suicide and Self-Harm StudiesHomicide, Infanticide, and Child AbuseGrief, Bereavement, and Mental Health

Relationships of age and axis I diagnoses in victims of completed suicide: A psychological autopsy study

Yeates Conwell, Paul R. Duberstein, Christopher Cox, John Herrmann, Nicholas T. Forbes, Eric D. Caine·1996·American Journal of Psychiatry
DOI 10.1176/ajp.153.8.1001
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Psychiatric illness is a potent risk factor for suicide, rates of which differ markedly with age. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the psychiatric diagnoses of suicide victims vary predictably with age. METHOD: DSM-III-R axis I diagnoses of 141 persons aged 21 to 92 years who had completed suicide were established by the psychological autopsy method. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to determine whether age, gender, or their interaction predicted the presence of specific disorders. RESULTS: One or more axis I conditions were diagnosable in 90.1% of the suicide victims. Substance use disorders were most frequent, followed by mood disorders and primary psychotic illness. Younger age at death was a significant predictor of substance abuse or dependence and primary psychoses, while older age predicted major mood disorders. Comorbidity of substance use and mood disorders was common. Among victims with substance abuse or dependence, older age at death predicted major depression; among victims with mood disorders, younger age at death predicted comorbid substance abuse or dependence. CONCLUSIONS: The distribution of psychiatric illnesses in suicide victims differs across the life course. Age-related patterns of addictive and psychotic disorders echo their prevalence in the general population. In contrast, the relationship between age and mood disorders among suicide victims is distinctly different from that of the general population. These findings suggest that risk for suicide increases with age in individuals with major affective illness. Depressed elderly men are particular targets for suicide prevention strategies.

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  • A U.S.-based study demonstrated depression is a particularly strong correlate of suicide in later life.

    “A U.S.-based study demonstrated that depression is a particularly strong correlate of suicide in later life [11].”

    From A systematic review of social factors and suicidal behavior in older adulthood (2012) · cites this paper as [11]

  • Psychological autopsy case-control studies provide remarkably consistent findings.

    “a variety of investigators have applied it in case control studies that provide remarkably consistent findings (7-21).”

    From Suicide in older adults (2011) · cites this paper as [11]

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Authors
Conwell, Y., Duberstein, P. R., Cox, C., Herrmann, J., Forbes, N. T., & Caine, E. D.
Affiliations
University of Rochester Medicine (US)
ORCID
Venue
American Journal of Psychiatry
Publisher
American Psychiatric Association Publishing
Published
1996-08-01
Volume
153
Issue
8
Pages
1001-1008
ISSN
  • 0002-953X (ISSN-L)
  • 1535-7228
DOI
10.1176/ajp.153.8.1001
OpenAlex
W1663762300
Cited by
725
References
52
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 21 · 2015: 34 · 2014: 27 · 2013: 36 · 2012: 35
FWCI
25.18
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • American Journal of Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (MH 40381, MH00748, K07MH000748)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Homicide, Infanticide, and Child Abuse
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health
Keywords
suicide, suicide mortality, age at death, psychiatric comorbidity, substance use disorders, mood disorders, major depressive disorder, psychosis, older men, suicide risk factors, suicide prevention, life course
MeSH terms
Adult, Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Mental Disorders, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Mortality, Probability, Psychotic Disorders, Regression Analysis, Risk Factors, Sex Factors, Suicide, Comorbidity, Prevalence, Age Distribution, Mood Disorders, Substance-Related Disorders

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