Deliberate self‐harm in the elderly

Abstract This article reviews 145 patients over the age of 65 years seen at a district general hospital after deliberate self‐harm between 1973 and 1985. There was no significant change in the numbers seen per year, and they comprised 5.4% of all the hospital's self‐harm cases. The male to female ratio was 1:1·5 although the self‐harm rates for males and females over 65 in the local population were identical. Fifty‐five per cent widowed, over 90% of the patients had depressive conditions, only 3% had an established dementia, and 63% had significant physical illness. Half the patients received inpatient psychiatric treatment. Under 10% of the patients gave a history of earlier self‐harm, while both the repetition and suicide rates were very low. These findings are discussed.