Resource Tag: CHRONIC ILLNESSES

Trends in suicide rates for American residents, aged 40-59 years, were examined for the period 1979-2005 & alternative explanations were explored for the notable increase in such deaths from 1999-2005. The timing of the post-1999 increase coincided with the complete replacement of the American middle-age strata by the postwar baby boom cohorts, whose youngest members […]

An increasing trend in attempted & completed suicide among wives of serving personnel was observed. A questionnaire designed to elicit the known risk factors for suicide, suicide attempts, & suicide ideation by women in the Indian context was administered to 222 wives of Indian military personnel living in a garrison with their husbands. 28% of […]

This study explored the impact of mental illness among patients with migraine. The authors performed MedLine & PsycINFO searches from 1980-2008. Research has systematically documented a strong bidirectional association between migraine & psychiatric disorders. The relationship between migraine & psychopathology has often been clinically discussed rather than systematically studied. Future research should include sound methodologically-based […]

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The independent association of physical illness & functional limitations with suicide mortality risk was assessed. The Cox proportional hazards model was used with data from the 1986-1994 National Health Interview Survey linked to the 1986-1997 National Death Index to analyze the effects of chronic physical illness & functional limitations on suicide. After controlling for potential […]

This thesis investigates the difference in reasons for living between men & women with & without chronic illness. The suicide ideation was determined by rating on a 48 item Reasons for Living questionnaire. Degree of chronic illness & illness related issues were determined by a demographic questionnaire. Results showed that men died by suicide at […]

This article discusses the case of George Beecham who assisted in the suicide of his daughter. It is suggested that a serious injustice is done to such defendants in the United Kingdom. The author asserts this injustice would be easily corrected by the creation of a suitably closely defined defence analogous to mercy killing. The […]

For the original articles by J Westefeld et al, & Werth & Holdwick, please see SIEC #2004-0746 & #2004-0747. For related reactions, see SIEC #2004-0748 & #2004-0749

In this study the authors sought to determine the potential risk factors associated with repeat suicide attempts among adolescents using a retrospective medical record review of all patients aged 13-20 years who presented to the emergency department at an inner city tertiary hospital after attempted suicide between 1994 & 1996. 87% of patients presented with […]

A group of 118 patients with a hospital diagnosis of schizophrenia was reviewd. The incidence of suicide attempts was significantly correlated with more frequent past psychiatric admissions, more frequent past diagnoses of schizophrenia, & poor work function. It was found that the apparent relationships could be spurious or based on a reversed causal sequence; for […]

This article is a follow-up to the article “When Suicide Prevention Becomes Brutality: the Case of Elizabeth Bouvia” also by G J Annas (SIEC #1985-0154), which reported on the case of Elizabeth Bouvia, a cerebral palsy victim who was force fed after attempting to starve herself during hospitalization. This article updates the case, discussing Bouvia’s […]

This article addresses the distinctive ethical issues that arise when the physician considers withdrawing low-burden clinical management from chronically – but not critically – ill patients. It is suggested that an ethically & clinically meaningful distinction can be made between withholding & withdrawing low-burden interventions. The case of an 85-year-old male who had had a […]

This book offers practical advice to parents who are helping their children through difficult times. Chapters include: 1) a path through grief; 2) death: helping kids mourn (includes information on suicide); 3) a journey of the heart: acute illness, chronic illness, & disability; 4) divorce; 5) families born of loss & hope; 6) mistakes, mischief, […]

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Chapter 1 of this edited book discusses the legal aspects of euthanasia in Canada, the USA & The Netherlands. Chapter 2 examines the Supreme Court ruling in the Sue Rodriguez case. In Chapter 3 it is argued that the concept of death with dignity needs to be rethought. Chapters 4 & 5 present the results […]

Factors that contribute to the increased incidence of suicide among the elderly, the chronically ill, & Native Americans are reviewed. Special consideration is given to a discussion of depression & suicide among the elderly. A developmental perspective is suggested as diagnosis & treatment strategies are somewhat different for the elderly than for other age groups. […]

This article reports on a group of nursing home residents, some identified as ideators at risk for suicide, & compares ideators to nonideators. 99 subjects were studied. It was found that those who lacked a confidante had significantly more ideation than those who had a significant other person in their life. Age was also a […]

This research explored the relationship between chronic dyspnea, suicide & suicidal ideation in elderly men through the use of psychological autopsies. Case subjects were identified through the coroner’s office & control subjects were obtained from outpatient practices in Chicago & surrounding suburbs. The suicide group was found to suffer a much higher incidence of depression. […]

This biography presents the story of Robert Clive who went to India as a clerk with the East India Company in 1744. The war over the Austrian succession in 1746 marked the beginning of Clive’s military career. When Clive returned to England for the final time in 1768, he had had enormous military & business […]

Psychiatrists feel pressured to discharge suicidal patients because of economic factors. This article discusses case examples & risk management questions. It concludes that when benefits of discharge outweigh risks of continued inpatient confinement, it is both ethically & legally prudent to discharge patients with chronic suicidal character problems. Careful preparation of the patient & family, […]

This presentation provides a historical view on the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) & notes that a literature review did not produce any references to suicide in CFS populations. 2 case summaries are provided as an aid in understanding the physical, psychological, & social impacts of CFS. They raise the question of CFS as a risk […]

This article notes that the overlap of symptoms of many chronic illnesses & disabling conditions with depression may lead to an overestimation of depression in such populations. This study investigated depressive symptom criteria constellations in spinal cord injury, rheumatoid arthritis, student & community groups (total n=502). A 4-factor solution emerged. The 1st factor labelled “dysphoria” […]