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Attempted suicide in later life is under-researched despite its public health significance. In this study, the authors delineated the characteristics of elderly suicide attempters in a representative Chinese sample by comparing them with suicide completers and comparison subjects age 65 years or over who were randomly selected from the community.

There were 224 subjects in this study: 66 suicide attempters, 67 suicide completers, and 91 comparison subjects from the community. Using a case–control design and standardized measuring instruments, authors examined the risk and protective factors associated with attempted suicide, making direct comparisons with the community-comparison subjects and suicide completers.

A current diagnosis of major depression was associated with a nearly 60-fold increased risk for attempted suicide, and a population attributable risk (PAR) of 67 …