Sex Differences in Correlates of Suicide Attempt Lethality in Late Life

The authors assessed correlates of suicide attempt lethality in older men & women. A cross-sectional study enrolled 125 older adults with major depression & a suicide attempt admitted to community & university hospitals. Attempt lethality was higher in older (70+) than in younger (50-69 years) men & lower in older than in younger women. Association between suicide intent & attempt lethality was the strongest in older men compared with the other groups. Older men acted more decisively on their suicidal intent than older women & this differences was more pronounced with increasing age. (48 refs.) JA