Van Hove Lisa, Baetens Imke, Vanderstichelen Steven
Brussels University Consultation Center (BRUCC), Department of Clinical Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels.
End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels/ Ghent University, Ghent.
Qual Res Med Healthc. 2025 Jan 17;8(Suppl 1):12457. doi: 10.4081/qrmh.2024.12457. eCollection 2024 Sep 9.
While research has highlighted potential age-related differences in risk factors for non-suicidal and suicidal self-injury ((N)SSI), studies on such distinct risk factors among older adults are scarce. The present study addresses this gap by gaining insights into the experiences of psychogeriatric experts who work with older adults who engage in (N)SSI. In total, nine experts were interviewed about factors associated with (N)SSI in older adults. The responses were thematically analyzed using the biopsychosocial framework. We located a range of biological, psychological, and social factors contributing to (N)SSI, which largely align with previous findings regardless of age. Nonetheless, according to the experts cognitive and physical decline, advancing age, various experiences of loss, and social isolation were observed as particularly significant risk factors for older adults. These results emphasize the need for tailored preventive measures, interventions, and screening tools to address the unique challenges faced by older adults at risk of (N)SSI. Additionally, future research should investigate (N)SSI experiences in older age with a more diverse sample, including mapping the perspective of older adults themselves, healthcare providers, and other informants, to enhance our comprehension of this phenomenon among older adults.
虽然研究突出了非自杀性和自杀性自我伤害（(N)SSI）风险因素中潜在的年龄相关差异，但针对老年人中此类不同风险因素的研究却很匮乏。本研究通过深入了解与有(N)SSI行为的老年人打交道的老年精神科专家的经验来填补这一空白。总共采访了九位专家，询问了与老年人(N)SSI相关的因素。使用生物心理社会框架对回答进行了主题分析。我们发现了一系列导致(N)SSI的生物、心理和社会因素，这些因素在很大程度上与先前的研究结果一致，与年龄无关。尽管如此，专家们认为认知和身体衰退、年龄增长、各种丧失经历以及社会隔离是老年人特别重要的风险因素。这些结果强调需要有针对性的预防措施、干预措施和筛查工具，以应对有(N)SSI风险的老年人所面临的独特挑战。此外，未来的研究应该用更多样化的样本调查老年人的(N)SSI经历，包括梳理老年人自身、医疗保健提供者和其他信息提供者的观点，以加深我们对老年人中这一现象的理解。
