Suicide Risk in Older Veterans with Mild Cognitive Impairment
Author Information
Author(s): Morin Ruth, Ritter Aaron, Li Yixia, Byers Amy
Primary Institution: Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian
Hypothesis
The study aims to characterize the occurrence of suicide attempts and associated clinical factors in older Veterans with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).
Conclusion
The study found that a significant percentage of older Veterans with MCI attempted suicide, highlighting the need for targeted prevention strategies.
Supporting Evidence
- 1.4% of the MCI sample attempted suicide during the study period.
- 11.3% of those who attempted suicide were fatal.
- 98.4% of individuals who attempted suicide had at least one psychiatric comorbidity.
- 71.4% of individuals with MCI who attempted suicide had a prior suicide attempt.
Takeaway
Older veterans with mild cognitive problems are at a higher risk of trying to hurt themselves, and many have other mental health issues.
Methodology
The study analyzed data from a cohort of Veterans over age 50 who used VA healthcare between 2012-2020.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to reliance on clinical diagnoses and self-reported data.
Limitations
The study is limited to older Veterans and may not generalize to other populations.
Participant Demographics
Participants were older Veterans, with a significant proportion being female and non-White.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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