TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2023//
TI  - Comorbidity profiles in older patients last seen by mental health prior to suicide attempt
JO  - Aging and mental health
A1  - Morin, Ruth T.
A1  - Li, Yixia
A1  - Karel, Michele J.
A1  - Consolino, Tara
A1  - Hwong, Alison
A1  - Clark, Ryan
A1  - Byers, Amy L.
SP  - ePub
EP  - ePub
VL  - ePub
IS  - ePub
N2  - OBJECTIVES: Suicide in late life is a public health concern. Determining profiles of psychiatric/medical comorbidity in those who attempt while engaged in mental health services may assist with prevention. We identified comorbidity profiles and their association with utilization, means, and fatality in a national sample who attempted suicide. <br><br>METHODS: Using latent class analysis, all patients aged ≥ 65 from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare services (2012-2018) last seen in mental health prior to suicide attempt were included. Diagnoses and attempt data were obtained from VA and Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services, VA Suicide Prevention Applications Network, and VA National Mortality Data Repository. <br><br>RESULTS: 2,269 patients were clustered into three profiles, all with high probability of depression. Profiles included minimal comorbidity (50.4%), high medical comorbidity (28.6%), and high (psychiatric/medical) comorbidity (21.0%). Over half (61.7%) attempted suicide within one week of their visit. The class with highest comorbidity had lowest proportion of fatal attempts, while minimal comorbidity class had highest proportion. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Older patients last seen in mental health prior to suicide attempt were characterized by depression and varying additional comorbidity and attempt-related factors. <br><br>FINDINGS have implications for risk assessment and intervention in mental health settings, beyond depression.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1360-7863
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2023.2228228
ID  - ref1
ER  -