A Psychodynamic Perspective on Suicidal Desire in the Elderly

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Abstract

The number of elderly individuals expressing the wish to end their lives in the absence of overt mental illness is increasing and is expected to grow further as life expectancy increases. Taking an individual’s statements at face value and consideration of only their current circumstances is likely to miss out unconscious meanings governing the wish to die. This chapter discusses psychodynamic factors at play among elderly individuals expressing suicidal thoughts. Prominent psychodynamic theories of suicide are first reviewed. Existing theories are then applied to a clinical case to provide a format for exploring psychodynamic factors that could influence suicidal thoughts among elderly individuals.

Keywords

Psychodynamic Psychoanalytic Unconscious motivations Rational suicide Assisted suicide 
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Copyright information

© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2017

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of PsychiatryNew York University School of MedicineNew YorkUSA

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