@article{ref1,
title="A study of self-harm in older people: Mental disorder, social factors and motives",
journal="Aging and mental health",
year="2007",
author="Dennis, M. S. and Wakefield, P. and Molloy, C. and Andrews, H. and Friedman, Trevor",
volume="11",
number="5",
pages="520-525",
abstract="Data was collected on seventy-six older people who presented to a specialist self-harm team. Data included: diagnosis, suicide intent, motives for self-harm, social contacts and life events and difficulties. The majority of elderly who harmed themselves had high suicide intent and 69% were depressed. Patients were frequently living alone with an isolated life-style and poor physical health. Depressed self-harm subjects had higher suicide intent scores than non-depressed and to gain relief from an unbearable state of mind was a frequently recorded motive for these patients. Other motives for self-harm appear to be similar between depressed and non-depressed self-harmers. It is important that older people who self-harm receive an appropriate assessment of both risk and need by an experienced mental-health professional skilled at recognising depression in later life. The need for adequate recognition and management of depression in older people in primary care is also highlighted.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1360-7863",
doi="10.1080/13607860601086611",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13607860601086611"
}