Differences in suicide behaviour in the elderly: a study in two provinces of Northern Italy.

BACKGROUND: to investigate the suicide phenomenon among the elderly (people aged 65 and over) in the Italian provinces of Novara and Verbania, in the time span between January 1990 and December 2000, in order to evaluate if the characteristics of the suicide behaviour correlate to the place of living with particular attention to the psychosocial factors. METHODS: the information was collected from the Republic Procuration of the two provinces. Frequencies and contingency tables were evaluated to compare the data found in the two provinces. Standardised Mortality Ratios (SMRs) with their confidential intervals (95% confidence intervals) were calculated in comparison with the average suicide rates in North West Italy in the same period and in the same age group. RESULTS: One hundred and eighty-four suicides were committed from the elderly, with an average rate of 14.07 per 100 000 inhabitants in Novara and 25.56 in Verbania. The most common methods used to commit suicide were hanging and jumping from height. The factors chiefly related to suicide were mental disease, followed by organic illness. The analysis of SMRs point out that the incidence of suicide in the province of Verbania is higher than in North West Italy while in Novara it is lower. CONCLUSION: the evaluation of the suicide risk in the elderly in a diagnostic and preventive framework must take into consideration the psychosocial factors that vary with the place of living.

[Suicidal behaviour in young people. An epidemiological study in the Verbano-Cusio-Ossola Province (years 1988-2000)]. / Le condotte suicidarie giovanili. Una ricerca epidemiologica nella provincia del Verbano-Cusio-Ossola (anni 1988-2000).

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study is to investigate the suicide and attempted suicide phenomenon among young people (<25 years old) in the Verbano-Cusio-Ossola province from January 1988 to December 2000. METHODS: This epidemiological-descriptive survey is based on the acquisition of data through the examination of model 45 registered at the Verbania Public Prosecutor's office. The data obtained were analysed with SPSS 8.0 software for Windows. The significance of the differences between the rates observed in our group and those observed in Italy in the same period was estimated by calculating SMR and SIR (Standardized Mortality Rates and Standardized Incidence Rates respectively). RESULTS: In the period considered in our study, 13 suicides and 62 attempted suicides were notified to the Court, with a rate of 2.55 and 12.18 per 100,000 inhabitants, respectively. The analysis of SMR and SIR points out that the incidence of suicide and attempted suicide among young people is higher in this province than in Italy. The most frequently used methods to commit suicide are hanging and carbon monoxide poisoning, while drug intoxication prevails in attempted suicide. The most common reasons are disagreements, followed by mental illness, psychosocial factors, loss of a relative and toxic dependence. CONCLUSIONS: The present study means to provide a description of suicide behaviour among young people in a geographic and cultural context, in order to point out its problems and to provide useful information for the diagnosis and prevention.