Suicide Evaluation

16 Pages 3883 Words

y group
included 47 cases and 82 controls.
The major concepts of their hypotheses were measured by specific and organized criteria; Waern, Rubenowitz, and Wilhelmson (2003) states that: “The interview included questions on past-year life events and mental and physical health. Medical records were reviewed for cases and controls. The Cumulative Illness Rating Scale-Geriatrics were used to rate illness burden.” Also the findings were reported by Waern, Rubenowitz, and Wilhelmson (2003) that:
Family conflict, serious physical illness, loneliness, and both major and minor depressions
were associated with suicide in the 75+ group. Economic problems predicted suicide in the
younger but not in the older elderly. Old elderly suicide victims with depression (major or
minor) were less likely to have received depression treatment than their younger counterparts.
These “Predictors of Suicide in the Old Elderly” as purported by Waern, Rubenowitz, and Wilhelmson (2003) are of obvious value and should used to direct a more intensified study in this area of suicide. The sample of 85 suicides and 153 control persons produces an extremely small percentage of information that is actually needed to make a viable conclusion that can be applied in the comprehension of the old elderly suicide rate. Waern, Rubenowitz, and Wilhelmson (2003) acknowledges these same limitations in their findings:
The number of cases among persons aged 75 and above was small, and the statistical power
was limited, resulting in wide confidence intervals. Secondly, the participation rate was
modest in the control group. Persons with psychosocial problems and mental and physical
disorders might have been more apt to decline than others.
Strengths of the study were reported as well but, it seems as though the limitations of this study outweigh its strengths.
Waern, Rubenowitz, and Wilhelmson (2003) co...