TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2005//
TI  - Risk factors of attempted suicide in the elderly: The role of cognitive impairment: A case-control study of old psychiatric in-patients
JO  - International journal of psychiatry in clinical practice
A1  - Fekete, Sandor
A1  - Voros, Viktor
A1  - Kovacs, A.
A1  - Osvath, Peter
SP  - 221
EP  - 225
VL  - 9
IS  - 3
N2  - The authors' aim was to assess the prevalence and importance of dementia and cognitive impairment in relation to suicidal behaviour in elderly psychiatric inpatients. The level of cognitive functioning (according to the Mini Mental State Examination -  (MMSE) of the elderly suicidal inpatients (N=62) were compared to the general elderly inpatients (N=152). There were significant differences in cognitive functioning between the two groups, in the non-suicidal group the level of cognitive function was significantly lower. However, mild cognitive deficit or mild dementia were registered in 60% of the suicide attempters. The results indicate that not only mood disorders, but other risk factors (especially mild cognitive impairment), have a key role in developing suicidal behaviour in the elderly. Thus, in the treatment and prevention of suicidal behaviour in the elderly, it is important to apply the complex bio-psycho-social model, in which (besides adequate pharmacotherapy) psychotherapeutic approaches and procedures to enhance cognitive functioning are of outstanding significance.
LA  - 
SN  - 1365-1501
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13651500510029020
ID  - ref1
ER  -