Elderly suicide in primary care.

BACKGROUND

Primary care is probably the most suitable setting to start a strategy for suicide prevention for the elderly especially as more people are seen before committing suicide in primary care than in secondary care.

AIM

This study examines the nature of complaints and timing of presentation to general practitioners by suicide victims in their last GP consultation, comparing persons aged 65 and over with those aged between 18 and 64.

METHODS

Details of all cases of suicide verdict and open verdict, which were returned in inquests, held at the Coroner's Court of Birmingham and Solihull, between January 1995 and December 1999 were reviewed. The study provided a comparison between older people (65+) and younger adults.

RESULTS

Older people had more physical illness, and were more likely to have seen their GP in the 6 months before suicide. Younger adults presented with more psychiatric symptoms, while older adults presented with more physical symptoms. Complaints to the GP in the last consultation were significantly different between the two age groups. Older people are more commonly present with physical pain and depression.

CONCLUSIONS

The study found that elderly suicide victims had different characteristics and attributes from those of younger adults presenting to primary care. This difference may have implications for suicide research, training of primary care staff and suicide prevention programmes.