Date of Award

1998

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Art

First Advisor

Marilyn Patterson

Second Advisor

Betty LeMasters

Third Advisor

Garland White

Abstract

This project examines elements of depression and suicide in the elderly. An emphasis on accurate assessment for depression and potential suicide is an integral part of the project's focus. An overall theme evident in all references is how hopeless the elderly feel prior to thoughts, plans and actions to end their lives. Depression shows through signs of helplessness, passivity, detachment, physical debilitation, and despair. Biological, sociological, psychosocial and psychological factors associated with aging are discussed. The specific topics and teaching modules provide guidance with the hope that caregivers will begin to understand the devastating desperation that precedes elderly suicide attempts and/or successes.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

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