IPA Journal Club welcomes Khedidja Hedna (Sweden) to present on the article: ‘Determinants of suicidal behavior in dementia: A Swedish national register-based study’
Date: 22 January 2025
Time: 7:00 AM CT
Dr. Khedidja Hedna is an associate researcher at the Centre for Ageing and Health (AgeCap) at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. Her work focuses on understanding the risk factors of mental illnesses in late-life, including depression and suicide. She also investigates the impact of medication use and prescribing practices on the health outcomes of older adults aged 75+. Hedna’s research aims to inform public health strategies to improve geriatric care and address health disparities.
The study of this paper investigates predictors of suicidal behavior in Swedish adults aged 75 years and older with dementia, using data from the Swedish Dementia Registry. Key risk factors included previous self-harm, serious depression, foreign country of birth, and the use of hypnotics or anxiolytics. Protective factors were advanced age (85+) and receiving home care. The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions, especially for individuals with depression or a history of self-harm, and suggest that home care may reduce the risk of SB in dementia patients.