1Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences, Hubli, Karnataka. E-mail:forensicnadaf@gmail.com
2Assoc. Prof, Dept. of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Ashwini Rural Medical College, Kumbhari, Solapur, Maharashtra
3Assist. Prof, Dept. of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Shimoga Institute of Medical Sciences, Shimoga, Karnataka
4Prof, Dept. of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, Bangalore, Karnataka
A great deal of research has been focused on the suicide in young, but surprisingly limited research has been under taken in the area of suicide in elderly accomplished by under reporting. Since the proportion of older people in population is rising worldwide, indeed the increase in developing countries like India is even greater than the developed countries. This prospective and descriptive study among elder people has been carried out in the Department of Forensic Medicine, Victoria Hospital, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, Bangalore during the period November 2005 to April 2007 (18 months). All the cases aged 60 years and above brought to the department for medico-legal autopsy with alleged history of suicide and or detected as suicide by the circumstantial evidences and autopsy findings were selected. A sum total of 70 cases were studied during the study period.
Elderly suicide, Reasons for suicide, Depression, Psychological autopsy
