Abstract
Background
Older adults have a high risk of suicide following self-harm. Contemporary information on self-harm in this population is needed to inform care provision.
Objectives
To examine subgroup differences in the incidence of self-harm, sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, preceding life problems and outcomes in individuals aged 60 years and over presenting to hospital following self-harm.
Method
Data on Emergency Department (ED) presentations for self-harm from 2003 to 2016 from three centres in the Multicentre Study of Self-Harm in England were analysed. Changes in self-harm rates were examined using Poisson regression. Univariable logistic regression was used to investigate factors associated with 12-month self-harm repetition.
Results
There were 3,850 presentations for self-harm by 2,684 individuals aged 60 years and over. Self-harm rates increased over time for 60–74-year-old men (IRR=1.04, 95% CI 1.02-1.06, PConclusions
Self-harm-related ED attendances in older men have increased, particularly for men aged 60-74 years. Prevention and clinical management should involve a comprehensive psychosocial assessment to target common precipitants for the wide range of problems preceding self-harm and may include support with physical and mental wellbeing and advice on safer alcohol use.
Older adults have a high risk of suicide following self-harm. Contemporary information on self-harm in this population is needed to inform care provision.
Objectives
To examine subgroup differences in the incidence of self-harm, sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, preceding life problems and outcomes in individuals aged 60 years and over presenting to hospital following self-harm.
Method
Data on Emergency Department (ED) presentations for self-harm from 2003 to 2016 from three centres in the Multicentre Study of Self-Harm in England were analysed. Changes in self-harm rates were examined using Poisson regression. Univariable logistic regression was used to investigate factors associated with 12-month self-harm repetition.
Results
There were 3,850 presentations for self-harm by 2,684 individuals aged 60 years and over. Self-harm rates increased over time for 60–74-year-old men (IRR=1.04, 95% CI 1.02-1.06, PConclusions
Self-harm-related ED attendances in older men have increased, particularly for men aged 60-74 years. Prevention and clinical management should involve a comprehensive psychosocial assessment to target common precipitants for the wide range of problems preceding self-harm and may include support with physical and mental wellbeing and advice on safer alcohol use.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | International journal of geriatric psychiatry |
| Publication status | Accepted/In press - 19 Feb 2023 |
Keywords
- self-harm
- suicide
- emergency department
- older adults
- prevention