International journal of geriatric psychiatry
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Int J Geriatr Psychiatry · Jul 2003
Comparative StudyAssessment and management of self-harm in older adults attending accident and emergency: a comparative cross-sectional study.
Older people who undertake self-harm are at higher suicide risk than are younger patients. This study examines whether this greater risk is reflected in the assessment and after-care that older patients receive when they attend accident and emergency. ⋯ Fortunately, older people attending accident and emergency following self-harm seemed likely to receive psychosocial assessment from a mental health specialist, and they were much more likely than younger patients to be offered after-care. Hospitals will need to monitor accident and emergency and other records if they are to check that their services are responding to the high risks seen in older patients.