Van Hove Lisa, Baetens Imke, Vanderstichelen Steven
Brussels University Consultation Center (BRUCC), Department of Clinical Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels/Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Psychopathology. 2024 Apr 10:1-9. doi: 10.1159/000537809.
Fewer studies thus far have focused on self-harm and its specific forms among older adults. Moreover, the limited available literature applies varying terminology. The categorization of self-harm used in younger populations may not be as appropriate for this population. This means that less is known about this phenomenon in older adults. The current study aimed to reduce this gap.
Nine Flemish psychogeriatric experts participated in a semi-structured interview. Transcripts were thematically analyzed.
Themes emerging from the interviews suggest that self-harm in older adults may also include distinct elements, such as the omission of certain behaviours and engagement in indirect self-harm to cause bodily harm. According to the experts, self-harm may be engaged in to cope with emotions, express life fatigue, hasten death, and communicate a cry for help.
Self-harm is prevalent in older adults, and some characteristics may be specific to self-harm in an older age group. These findings may enable clinicians to be more alert to self-harm in older adults and consequently prevent serious suicidal behaviour. More research is needed to further uncover this phenomenon.
迄今为止，针对老年人自我伤害及其特定形式的研究较少。此外，现有的有限文献使用的术语各不相同。年轻人群体中使用的自我伤害分类可能不适用于该群体。这意味着我们对老年人中的这一现象了解较少。当前的研究旨在缩小这一差距。
九位弗拉芒老年精神病学专家参与了半结构化访谈。对访谈记录进行了主题分析。
访谈中出现的主题表明，老年人的自我伤害可能还包括一些独特的因素，比如某些行为的缺失以及通过间接自我伤害来造成身体伤害。据专家称，自我伤害可能是为了应对情绪、表达生活疲惫、加速死亡以及传达求救信号。
自我伤害在老年人中很普遍，并且某些特征可能是老年人群体自我伤害所特有的。这些发现可能使临床医生对老年人的自我伤害更加警觉，从而预防严重的自杀行为。需要更多研究来进一步揭示这一现象。
