A Prospective Study of Risk Factors for Traumatic Deaths in a Retirement Community

This study examined possible predictors of traumatic deaths within a Southern California retirement community. The strongest indicator was the mental outlook assessment score. Individuals in the poorest summary score category were 23 times more likely to complete suicide than those in the best summary score category. Other risk indicators include: being widowed or divorced, sleeping 9 or more hours a night, & drinking more than 3 alcoholic beverages a day. (VM)