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Objective: In this study, we describe psychological symptoms, any relationship with suicidal intention in a sample of subjects recently attempting suicide and the predictive value of this association in later completed suicide. Methods: An assessment was made of 467 suicidological consultations carried out by the Suicidology Unit of the Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, University of Padua, on 421 patients admitted to hospital following attempted suicide in the 5-year period 1990–1994. Suicidal intention was appraised by the Intent Score Scale (ISS). Suicide mortality was assessed after a mean follow-up period of 3.5 years. Results: Psychiatric evaluation was completely negative in only 8% of cases. The most commonly identified symptom was depressed mood (79% of cases, 22% severe depression), followed by anxiety (43% of cases, 32% severe anxiety). From the study, it emerged that psychopathology seemed to influence suicidal intent, where this was characterized by severe depression. Anxiety and other symptoms appeared to have a secondary role. Assessments of suicidal intent showed that intention heightened as the number of symptoms increased. The symptom ‘anxiety’ did not prove to have a significant bearing on assessment of the seriousness of suicidal intention, whereas severely depressed mood did. The total number of subsequent suicide victims was 5.5%. During consultation relating to the index parasuicide, these subjects did not manifest a discriminate psychopathological profile (the only distinguishing characteristic was anxiety, which was less frequently identified in suicide victims), but did present a more positive personal and family psychiatric history. Conclusions: In subjects who had recently attempted suicide, the psychopathological profile appeared to be related to suicidal intent, where this was characterized by severe depression. Anxiety and other symptoms seemed to have a secondary role. Nonetheless, both total scores and subscores should be taken into consideration when assessing suicidal intention through the ISS. The psychopathological profile and ISS score following attempted suicide do not appear to permit prediction, in the medium to long term, of subsequent completed suicide.

Background: Various factors are considered to influence sexual behavior in the elderly, but the role played by preservation of adequate cognitive functioning has not been adequately explored. Objective: The aim of this research, conducted on 352 older adults aged between 65 and 105 years, was to identify the specific role played by cognitive functioning in sexual activity and sexual interest in the elderly. Methods: The data were collected from elderly people attending the surgeries of 21 general practitioners in the city of Padua (Italy). Analysis of sexual functioning was based on two items, from the LEIPAD questionnaire: ‘Are you interested in sex?’ and ‘Do you have sexual relations?’. Subjects cognitive status was assessed objectively through the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and subjectively by the LEIPAD subscale on cognitive functioning. Results: Subjects who were sexually active and interested in sex were more highly represented among the married elderly. The elderly who reported being active and interested in sex were significantly younger and had a significantly superior educational level and MMSE score. Mean scores for cognitive functioning and all quality-of-life indicators were in general significantly better for the active and interested. Univariate logistic regression analysis indicated that a higher MMSE score and cognitive functioning score influenced the maintenance of sexual interest. Conclusions: One third of the subjects reported being still sexually active and 40% being still interested in sex. This study seems to suggest that a significant role may be played by cognitive functioning in the maintenance of sexual interest in the elderly, especially older females in whom this dimension is evidently linked to far more diversified experiences than their male peers.

More careful attention to somatic conditions and their subjective implications would probably augment chances of effectively preventing suicide.

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