Citation

Waern M. Suicide Life Threat. Behav. 2005; 35(3): 356-364.

Affiliation

Section of Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Neuroscience, Sahlgrenska Academy, Goteborg University, Sweden. margda.waern@neuro.gu.se

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, American Association of Suicidology, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

16156495

Abstract

This exploratory study compares elderly suicides with (n=13) and without (n=72) family member suicide. Previous episodes of suicidal behavior were more common among suicides who lost first-degree relatives by suicide (100% vs. 65%, p = .009). Six persons had lost an offspring by suicide prior to their own deaths. Substance use disorder was more prevalent among those with offspring suicide than those without (100% vs. 25%, p = .000). While informants reported that offspring suicides played a central role in the suicide of the elderly study case, sibbling suicides were not considered precipitating factors.