Late Life Suicidality: A Narrative Review

Late Life Suicidality: A Narrative Review

Tiffany Field, PhD

University of Miami School of Medicine and Fielding Graduate University

This review summarizes research on late life suicidality found in the recent literature (last five years). The prevalence has widely ranged from 5-56% for suicidality in late life. The research has focused primarily on predictors/risk factors for suicidality. Social factors have included bereavement, isolation and loneliness. Psychological problems have included anxiety, depression, cognitive impairment, sleep disturbances and prior suicide attempts. Physical conditions have included functional disability, inflammation, chronic illness and drug misuse. Interventions have focused primarily on exercise and increasing physical activity. The interpersonal theory of suicide (thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness), inflammation and immune dysfunction have been considered potential underlying mechanisms for late life suicidality. This research is limited to self-report, cross-sectional studies that typically involve several variables, although the relative significance of the different variables is frequently not reported.

Keywords: Late Life Suicidality; Narrative Review

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How to cite this article:

Tiffany Field. Late Life Suicidality: A Narrative Review. American Journal of Psychiatric Research and Reviews, 2023; 6:40. DOI: 10.28933/ajprr-2023-05-2906tf3

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