Suicide in two patients with a diagnosis of probable Alzheimer disease

Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord. 1999 Apr-Jun;13(2):88-90. doi: 10.1097/00002093-199904000-00005.

Abstract

Two patients meeting the criteria for probable Alzheimer disease (AD) who were participating in a phase 3 clinical program with eptastigmine, a cholinesterase inhibitor, committed suicide. The first patient committed suicide by a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The second patient committed suicide by jumping from a 19th story window. These two patients shared several clinical features with those found in the literature: being at the early stages of the disease, having a high level education, with preserved insight, having access to firearms, and being aware of not responding to pharmacological treatment.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Alzheimer Disease / drug therapy
  • Alzheimer Disease / psychology*
  • Attitude to Health*
  • Disease Progression
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Suicide* / psychology
  • Treatment Failure