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Suicide Pact in a Depressed Elderly Couple: Case Report
Author(s) -
Mehta Dinesh,
Mathew Poyanil,
Mehta Shobhana
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1978.tb01224.x
Subject(s) - medicine , pact , suicide prevention , poison control , occupational safety and health , human factors and ergonomics , psychiatry , injury prevention , depression (economics) , medical emergency , gerontology , archaeology , history , macroeconomics , pathology , economics
An elderly depressed couple with multiple physical problems decided that death was preferable to their present lifestyle, and made a suicide pact. At the last minute the wife felt unable to go through with it and the couple entered a psychiatric hospital. During their 3‐week stay they were treated appropriately with amitriptyline and psychotherapy. Since discharge they have been followed closely for two years. Some psycho‐ and socio‐dynamic and therapeutic aspects are discussed.