S58.02 - Delirium and suicidal behaviour in the elderly

Abstract

Suicide rates in elderly people have been high, worldwide. Suicide in elderly people is multifactorial. Mood disorders, physical illnesses, and previous suicide attempt, has been associated with increased risk of suicide in elderly people. Delirium or acute confusional state, also, has been proposed as a risk factor. Delirium is characterized by a disturbance in consciousness, change in cognition, perceptual disturbances, and often has multiple underlying causes. Delirium is often undetected or misdiagnosed, and is difficult to evaluate suicidal thoughts and intent in delirious patients. There is a debate in the medical literature concerning the role of delirium as a risk factor of suicidal behaviour. It has been proposed that, confusional state contribute to impulsive suicide attempts, as could occur, in cancer or in AIDS patients. However, past work suggested that delirium was a protective factor for suicide.