A case of the attempted suicide of a 66-year-old female is presented. Comment based on the chapters in this volume is presented. Specific topics of demographics, psychiatric-psychological, object relations, the attempt, and concluding comments provide an idiographic illustration of suicidal behavior in an older adult.

Computer-administered exams offer many advantages, but instructors may be reluctant to use them due to concerns that computer anxiety may increase student test anxiety. Introductory psychology students (N = 265) completed surveys prior to their first exam about their anxiety related to the upcoming exam, computers in general, and taking exams on the computer. One group of students took traditional paper-and-pencil exams and the other group took computer-administered exams. We found no differences between the groups for exam anxiety or general computer anxiety, but the traditional group reported more anxiety about taking an exam on computer. We recommend strategies for relieving students' anxiety, such as in-class demonstrations of the technology.

Suicide rates historically and currently are highest by age among those over the age of 65. Predictions of markedly higher rates for future older adults have been advanced. Possible alternative factors that might produce lower risk among future elderly Americans are presented and it is argued that future trends are uncertain. Predictions of elderly suicide are made based on an assumption of stable rather than changing rates. Constant rates produce estimates of more than twice the current number of suicides and a proportionate increase in the number of suicides from one in five for the 1980s to one in three by the year 2030. The elderly are and likely will be a group with high suicide risk. Immediate efforts to lower elderly suicide risk and avert high future rates are recommended.

The literature on suicide survivors suggests that suicide grief is different than the grief associated with survivorship from other causes. The few studies that have compared groups of survivors from other causes, however, have often not observed as many differences as expected based on the suicide survivors literature. In this study, 230 college students who had survived the suicide (N=61), accidental (N=92), or natural deaths (N=77) of a f.mily member or close friend were asked to complete a set of questionnaires. Reactions of the survivors to the death were meaeured by a number of questions, the Texas Revised Inventory of Grief, the Impact of Event Scale, and the Revised University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Loneliness Scale. Attitudes toward suicide survivors were assessed by the Aftermath of Suicide instrument. In general, many more similarities than differences were noted for the survivors of the various causes. No significant differences between the groups were observed for guilt, shame, isolation from others, or loneliness; thinking about suicide; time to resume normal functioning; or the impact of the event currently or immediately after the death. Compared to other survivors, however, suicide survivors reported significantly more stigmatizing events and blamed more people for the death. Survivors of sudden deaths, both suicidal and accidental, exhibited greater stigma and more of a desire to understand why after the death than did natural death survivors. (Author)

Suicide rates vary greatly by sex and race but the methods employed by these groups and changes in those methods have been studied neither closely nor systematically across time. In the present study annual official national statistics for specific methods of suicide by sex and racial group from 1923 to 1978 were examined. During this time period shifts were found among groups in the proportions of various suicide methods employed, most notably for women and Asian-Americans. Generally, firearm use increased among nearly all ethnic/racial-sex groups while the use of poisons declined. Although women continue to be more likely than men to kill themselves with solid and liquid poisons, in very recent years firearms have become a more common method. Among Japanese- and Chinese-Americans of both sexes the most frequently employed method has been hanging. Although this is still the case, the proportions have declined over time while the use of firearms has increased. Explanations are offer...

Suicide rates by age are highest among older adults. Subpopulations of elderly adults at high risk are identified, including White males, the target of a Healthy People 2000 Objective. Several specific programs are described and a range of measures to prevent suicide in late life are suggested. These measures include primary prevention steps related to education and information dissemination, and secondary prevention involving early identification and assessment of the depressed and suicidal as well as improved referral efforts.

Empirical studies of suicide survivors with designs that include control groups are reviewed. Investigations are discussed individually with respect to those in which participating survivors are friends or a combination of many different relationships to the deceased, parents of the deceased child, and spouses. Following the review is a brief discussion of the commonalities of the findings and the most frequent methodological difficulties. Concluding comments suggest methodological improvements as well as issues and groups for which additional investigations are needed.

Little is known about the nature of suicide survivors groups. Survey responses by 149 U.S. and Canadian groups are characterized as follows: (1) they are most often sponsored by mental health or social service agencies or have no sponsor; (2) groups have operated an average of 8 to 9 years; (3) fewer than 10 people typically attend monthly or twice monthly meetings; (4) group experience predominantly involves sharing personal experiences; (5) leadership generally involves either trained facilitators, mental health professionals, or both; (6) most groups are open ended; (7) all social/ethnic, income, and adult age groups are served, but few children and teenagers attend; and (8) referrals come predominantly by word-of-mouth or medical and religious sources. Further research is required regarding survivor group attributes and processes.

Doctoral dissertations on suicide from 1990 to 1995 appearing in Volumes 51-55 and the 1995 issues of Volume 56 of Dissertation Abstracts International are listed. A total of 214 dissertations from 119 North American institutions of higher learning (110 in the United States and 9 in Canada) are compiled and organized by the year in which the dissertation was completed. An average of 40 dissertations were completed annually for the years 1990-1994. The institutions granting the most doctorates are indicated. More than half of the doctoral projects involve topics of youth suicide, with only small numbers of dissertations on any other specific topic.

The literature on suicide survivors suggests that suicide grief is different than the grief associated with survivorship from other causes. The few studies that have compared groups of survivors from other causes, however, have often not observed as many differences as expected based on the suicide survivors literature. In this study, 230 college students who had survived the suicide (N=61), accidental (N=92), or natural deaths (N=77) of a f.mily member or close friend were asked to complete a set of questionnaires. Reactions of the survivors to the death were meaeured by a number of questions, the Texas Revised Inventory of Grief, the Impact of Event Scale, and the Revised University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Loneliness Scale. Attitudes toward suicide survivors were assessed by the Aftermath of Suicide instrument. In general, many more similarities than differences were noted for the survivors of the various causes. No significant differences between the groups were observed for guilt, shame, isolation from others, or loneliness; thinking about suicide; time to resume normal functioning; or the impact of the event currently or immediately after the death. Compared to other survivors, however, suicide survivors reported significantly more stigmatizing events and blamed more people for the death. Survivors of sudden deaths, both suicidal and accidental, exhibited greater stigma and more of a desire to understand why after the death than did natural death survivors. (Author)

Generational analysis" is proposed that would consider actual cohort or generational suicide risk. Personality characteristics of different generations are discussed as they may affect suicide, its prevention, and intervention. In addition, annual suicide data for 1968-1991 are presented for the "Boom" generation (born 1943-1960) and for the young group of Americans called 13ers (the 13th generation of Americans; born 1961-1981). Results indicate that Boomers are presently 1 of every 3 suicides and 1 of every 4 Americans, while 13ers are 1 of 4 suicides and 1 of 3 in the population. Consistent with previous cohort analysis studies, these two cohorts are at greater risk than earlier generations at the same chronological age, with 13ers higher than Boomers for the ages they have thus far attained. I t is recommended that researchers, theorists, and mental health professionals consider generational issues, and that suicidology expand its attention to the life cycles of generations.

MFOI/PCOI Plus Postage. Demography; Etiology; High Risk Persons; Individual Characteristics; *Information Needs; *Older Adults; Prevention; Research Needs; *Suicide General data on suicide among the elderly are available but -the trendsiand_levels often -have been either ignored Misrepresented; AvailabA4 data indicate -that despite .declines, suicide .rates in thp United States remaihhighest in ;old age. Impediments to understanding elderly suicide occur due te"bmissions in available national -data bases. Inadequacies ofavailablee'.-H'_ official; national and other.data,include thei'omisSion of:'marital status and time .ilLthat'statui; race/ethnicity; socioeconomic statust' occupation (e.g., retired); liVing conditions' (e:g;-.; with whom)1. AL mental, physical, and chronic conditions; 'and. historical infOrmation (e.g.; pagtattempts); This and other information about elderly suicides would be useful to test etiological theories and determine&#39...