Medical Illness and the Risk of Suicide in the Elderly

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Abstract
Suicide is a major health problem, ranking as the 11th leading cause of death in the United States and accounting for about 30 000 deaths each year.1,2 Factors associated with an increased suicide risk include modifiable conditions such as mood disorders,3 alcoholism,4-6 and substance abuse,7 as well as fixed characteristics such as male sex8 and advancing age.9 The elderly generally attempt suicide with much higher lethality than younger persons and in many countries kill themselves at a rate higher than any other segment of the population.10-12 However, suicide in the elderly generally receives less attention in the medical literature and news media than suicide in young adults.13

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