Year: 2002 Source: BMJ, v.325, no.7361, (August 2002), p.442 SIEC No: 20041117

This letter responds to an article by Waern et al, which examined the relationship between physical illness & suicide in elderly people. The current authors contribute to the earlier findings with a study of comorbid depression & physical disease in people aged 65 years & over who died by suicide in Finland. Their findings support those of Waern & also highlight areas for prevention. A brief commentary by Charatan follows. (7 refs)