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Suicide and assisted dying in dementia: what we know and what we need to know. A narrative literature review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 May 2017

J. Diehl-Schmid ,
R. Jox ,
S. Gauthier ,
S. Belleville ,
E. Racine ,
C. Schüle ,
G. Turecki  and
S. Richard-Devantoy
J. Diehl-Schmid*
Affiliation:
Munich-Montréal Working Group on Dementia and Suicide, Germany & Canada Department of Psychiatry, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
R. Jox
Affiliation:
Munich-Montréal Working Group on Dementia and Suicide, Germany & Canada Institute of Ethics, History and Theory of Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Germany Geriatric Palliative Care, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
S. Gauthier
Affiliation:
Munich-Montréal Working Group on Dementia and Suicide, Germany & Canada Alzheimer's Disease Research Unit, McGill Centre for Studies in Aging, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
S. Belleville
Affiliation:
Munich-Montréal Working Group on Dementia and Suicide, Germany & Canada Département de Psychologie, Université de Montréal & Centre de Recherche, Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
E. Racine
Affiliation:
Munich-Montréal Working Group on Dementia and Suicide, Germany & Canada Neuroethics Research Unit, Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), Montréal, Canada & Department of Medicine and Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Université de Montréal; Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Experimental Medicine & Biomedical Ethics Unit, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
C. Schüle
Affiliation:
Munich-Montréal Working Group on Dementia and Suicide, Germany & Canada Department of Psychiatry, Ludwig Maximilians Universität München, Munich, Germany
G. Turecki
Affiliation:
Munich-Montréal Working Group on Dementia and Suicide, Germany & Canada McGill University, Department of Psychiatry & Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Montréal, Québec, Canada
S. Richard-Devantoy
Affiliation:
Munich-Montréal Working Group on Dementia and Suicide, Germany & Canada McGill University, Department of Psychiatry & Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Montréal, Québec, Canada Hôpital de Saint-Jérôme, CISSS des Laurentides, Saint-Jérôme (Quebec), Canada & Laboratoire de Psychologie des Pays de la Loire, Université d'Angers, Angers, France
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Prof. Dr. Janine Diehl-Schmid, Department of Psychiatry, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Str.22, 81675 München, Germany. Phone: +49-89-41406488; Fax: +49-89-41404923. Email: janine.diehl-schmid@tum.de.
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Abstract

Background:

Evidence-based data on prevalence and risk factors of suicidal intentions and behavior in dementia are as scarce as the data on assisted dying. The present literature review aimed on summarizing the current knowledge and provides a critical discussion of the results.

Methods:

A systematic narrative literature review was performed using Medline, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, PSYNDEX, PSYCINFO, Sowiport, and Social Sciences Citation Index literature.

Results:

Dementia as a whole does not appear to be a risk factor for suicide completion. Nonetheless some subgroups of patients with dementia apparently have an increased risk for suicidal behavior, such as patients with psychiatric comorbidities (particularly depression) and of younger age. Furthermore, a recent diagnosis of dementia, semantic dementia, and previous suicide attempts most probably elevate the risk for suicidal intentions and behavior. The impact of other potential risk factors, such as patient's cognitive impairment profile, behavioral disturbances, social isolation, or a biomarker based presymptomatic diagnosis has not yet been investigated. Assisted dying in dementia is rare but numbers seem to increase in regions where it is legally permitted.

Conclusion:

Most studies that had investigated the prevalence and risk factors for suicide in dementia had significant methodological limitations. Large prospective studies need to be conducted in order to evaluate risk factors for suicide and assisted suicide in patients with dementia and persons with very early or presymptomatic diagnoses of dementia. In clinical practice, known risk factors for suicide should be assessed in a standardized way so that appropriate action can be taken when necessary.

Keywords

dementiasuiciderisk factorsassisted dyingpresymptomatic diagnosis
Type
Review Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 29 , Issue 8 , August 2017 , pp. 1247 - 1259
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2017 

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