Familial and social transmission of suicidal behavior in older adults.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Both biological and social mechanisms have been implicated in the transmission of suicidal behavior in younger and middle-aged adults. Yet, while suicide rates rise with age, it is not clear whether such mechanisms operate in late life. Thus, we looked for evidence of social and familial suicidal transmission in elderly with late- vs. early-onset suicidal behavior by examining exposure to suicidal behavior within biological relatives and broader social networks.

Method

Participants were 356 adults, aged 50 or older (mean: 67), divided into five groups: early-onset suicide attempters (first lifetime attempt before age 60), late-onset attempters, suicide ideators (without attempt history), depressed non-suicidal controls, and non-psychiatric controls. History of sui

SUBMITTER: Kenneally LB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6351150 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature