Suicidality and tiredness of life among very old persons: Results from the Berlin Aging Study (BASE)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the wish to be dead, suicidal ideation and suicidal intent in a group of very old (70 to over 100 years) persons in the community. In a cross-section of this population we found the following prevalence rates: 15% in the very old community had, at the time of the study, symptoms of tiredness of life; 5% wished to die; and 0.5-1% showed suicidal behavior or gestures. There is a parallel and significant increase in all categories of the acute wish to be dead and suicidality with increasing age. One and one-half to two times more females than males reported the wish to be dead or showed suicidal behavior or gestures.