Although the rate for suicide in old age is high, the rate for attempted (unsuccessful) suicide is low. Among the elderly, suicide-attempt groups have more physical disorders, more psychoses, & more psychopathologic findings & are under-represented demographically. 50% of the elderly suicide attempters have organic brain syndrome (OBS) compared to only 5-10% of the “normal” population over 60. OBS apparently interferes with the success of suicide attempts by impairing co-ordination, etc.