TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2007//
TI  - A study of self-harm in older people: Mental disorder, social factors and motives
JO  - Aging and mental health
A1  - Dennis, M. S.
A1  - Wakefield, P.
A1  - Molloy, C.
A1  - Andrews, H.
A1  - Friedman, Trevor
SP  - 520
EP  - 525
VL  - 11
IS  - 5
N2  - 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>
LA  - en
SN  - 1360-7863
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13607860601086611
ID  - ref1
ER  -