OBJECTIVES: Older adults die by suicide at a higher rate than any other age group in nearly every country globally. Suicide among older adults has been an intractable clinical and epidemiological problem for decades, due in part to an incomplete understanding of the causes of suicide, as well as imprecision in the prediction and prevention of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in later life. Theory-driven investigations hold promise in addressing these gaps by systematically identifying testable, and thus falsifiable, mechanisms that may better explain this phenomenon and also point to specific interventions. METHOD: In this article, we comprehensively review key extant psychological and sociological theories of suicide and discuss each theory's applicability to the understanding and prevention of suicide among older adults. RESULTS: Despite a modest number of theories of suicide, few have undergone extensive empirical investigation and scrutiny, and even fewer have been applied specifically to older adults. CONCLUSION: To advance the science and contribute findings with a measurable clinical and public health impact, future research in this area, from conceptual to applied, must draw from and integrate theory.
OBJECTIVES: Older adults die by suicide at a higher rate than any other age group in nearly every country globally. Suicide among older adults has been an intractable clinical and epidemiological problem for decades, due in part to an incomplete understanding of the causes of suicide, as well as imprecision in the prediction and prevention of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in later life. Theory-driven investigations hold promise in addressing these gaps by systematically identifying testable, and thus falsifiable, mechanisms that may better explain this phenomenon and also point to specific interventions. METHOD: In this article, we comprehensively review key extant psychological and sociological theories of suicide and discuss each theory's applicability to the understanding and prevention of suicide among older adults. RESULTS: Despite a modest number of theories of suicide, few have undergone extensive empirical investigation and scrutiny, and even fewer have been applied specifically to older adults. CONCLUSION: To advance the science and contribute findings with a measurable clinical and public health impact, future research in this area, from conceptual to applied, must draw from and integrate theory.
Authors: Uchechi A Mitchell; Jennifer A Ailshire; Lauren L Brown; Morgan E Levine; Eileen M Crimmins Journal: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci Date: 2018-06-14 Impact factor: 4.077
Authors: Carol Chu; Kristin L Walker; Ian H Stanley; Jameson K Hirsch; Jeffrey H Greenberg; M David Rudd; Thomas E Joiner Journal: J Pers Soc Psychol Date: 2017-06-26
Authors: Kristen A Gustavson; George S Alexopoulos; Grace C Niu; Charles McCulloch; Tanya Meade; Patricia A Areán Journal: Am J Geriatr Psychiatry Date: 2015-07-30 Impact factor: 4.105
Authors: Carol Chu; Jennifer M Buchman-Schmitt; Ian H Stanley; Melanie A Hom; Raymond P Tucker; Christopher R Hagan; Megan L Rogers; Matthew C Podlogar; Bruno Chiurliza; Fallon B Ringer; Matthew S Michaels; Connor H G Patros; Thomas E Joiner Journal: Psychol Bull Date: 2017-10-26 Impact factor: 17.737
Authors: Adrienne Lapidos; Kristen M Abraham; Jennifer Jagusch; James Garlick; Heather Walters; H Myra Kim; Eduardo Vega; Laura Damschroder; Jane Forman; Brian Ahmedani; Cheryl A King; Paul N Pfeiffer Journal: Contemp Clin Trials Date: 2019-09-13 Impact factor: 2.226