Evidence mapPaperPMID 39290301Full record

ReviewFrontiers in psychiatry2024

Neurobiology and medico-legal aspects of suicides among older adults: a narrative review.

Francesco Sessa, Rita Polito, Giuseppe Li Rosi, Monica Salerno, Massimiliano Esposito, Daniela Pisanelli, Federica Ministeri, Antonietta Messina, Marco Carotenuto, Sergio Chieffi and 2 more

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Frontiers in psychiatry, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Suicide in neurodegenerative diseases: a systematic review.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2026
    Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Francesco Sessa *Department of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technologies "G.F. Ingrassia", University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Rita Polito *Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy.
Giuseppe Li RosiDepartment of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technologies "G.F. Ingrassia", University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Monica SalernoDepartment of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technologies "G.F. Ingrassia", University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Massimiliano EspositoFaculty of Medicine and Surgery, "Kore" University of Enna, Enna, Italy.
Daniela PisanelliMicrobiology and Virology Unit, Ospedali Riuniti, Viale Luigi Pinto, Foggia, Italy.
Federica MinisteriDepartment of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technologies "G.F. Ingrassia", University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Antonietta MessinaDepartment of Precision Medicine, University of Campania, Luigi Vanvitelli, Napoli, Italy.
Marco CarotenutoClinic of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Department of Mental Health, Physical and Preventive Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy.
Sergio ChieffiDepartment of Clinical Medicine, University of Campania, Luigi Vanvitelli, Napoli, Italy.
Giovanni MessinaDepartment of Clinical Medicine, University of Campania, Luigi Vanvitelli, Napoli, Italy.
Marcellino MondaDepartment of Clinical Medicine, University of Campania, Luigi Vanvitelli, Napoli, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The task of preventing suicide in older adults is an important social burden as older adults aged above 65 are exposed to singular psychological aspects that increase suicide risks. Moreover, when an older adult corpse is found, the medico-legal inspection represents a fundamental tool to identify the exact cause of death, classifying or excluding it as suicide. In this scenario, this review aims to explore the neurobiological factors that could be related to suicidal behavior in older adults. A further goal of this review is the exploration of the medico-legal aspects surrounding older adult suicides, clarifying the importance of forensic investigation. Particularly, this review examines issues such as neurotransmitter imbalances, cognitive impairment, neuroinflammation, psychosocial factors related to geriatric suicide, and neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, medico-legal aspects such as policy considerations, legal frameworks, mental health assessments, ethical implications and forensic investigation were explored. Considering the importance of this phenomenon, especially in western countries, a need has emerged for focused screening tools on suicidal behavior among older adults, in order to contain it. Therefore, this review makes an exhaustive appraisal of the literature giving insights into the delicate interplay between neurobiology as well as mental health in relation to older adult suicide within a medico-legal context. The comprehension of different aspects about this complex phenomenon is fundamental to propose new and more effective interventions, supporting tailored initiatives such as family support and improving healthcare, specifically towards vulnerable ageing societies to reduce older adult suicide risks.

Indexed as

agingmedico-legal aspectsneurobiologyolder adultpopulationssuicides

Identifiers

PMID39290301
PMCPMC11405742

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.