Firearms and Dementia
Authors: Marian E. Betz, Alexander D. McCourt, Jon S. Vernick, Megan L. Ranney, Garen J. Wintemute
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2018)

Letters20 November 2018Firearms and DementiaMarian E. Betz, MD, MPH, Alexander D. McCourt, JD, MPH, Jon S. Vernick, JD, MPH, Megan L. Ranney, MD, MPH, and Garen J. Wintemute, MD, MPHMarian E. Betz, MD, MPHUniversity of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, Colorado (M.E.B.)Search for more papers by this author, Alexander D. McCourt, JD, MPHJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland (A.D.M., J.S.V.)Search for more papers by this author, Jon S. Vernick, JD, MPHJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland (A.D.M., J.S.V.)Search for more papers by this author, Megan L. Ranney, MD, MPHRhode Island Hospital/Alpert Medical School and Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island (M.L.R.)Search for more papers by this author, and Garen J. Wintemute, MD, MPHUniversity of California, Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, California (G.J.W.)Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/L18-0523 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail IN RESPONSE:We agree with Dr. Ertle that dementia is not the only condition that increases the risk for suicide. This risk is related to many static and transient factors, including physical and mental health conditions and social stressors. In all of these cases, access to firearms can increase the acute risk for death because firearms are a highly lethal method of suicide. In other publications, we and many other authors have discussed the prevention of suicide by firearm in populations besides persons with dementia. In this commentary, we sought instead to explore the various risks for injury by firearm ... Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, Colorado (M.E.B.)Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland (A.D.M., J.S.V.)Rhode Island Hospital/Alpert Medical School and Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island (M.L.R.)University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, California (G.J.W.)Disclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M18-0140. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoFirearms and Dementia: Clinical Considerations Marian E. Betz , Alexander D. McCourt , Jon S. Vernick , Megan L. Ranney , Donovan T. Maust , and Garen J. Wintemute Firearms and Dementia Alan R. Ertle Metrics Cited byFeasibility and Acceptability of a Web-Based Caregiver Decision Aid (Safety in Dementia) for Firearm Access: Pilot Randomized Controlled TrialA National Research Strategy to Reduce Firearm-Related Injury and Death: Recommendations from the Health Policy Research Subcommittee of the Society of General Internal Medicine (SGIM)Firearm-Related Injury and Death in the United States: A Call to Action From the Nation's Leading Physician and Public Health Professional OrganizationsRobert M. McLean, MD, Patrice Harris, MD, John Cullen, MD, Ronald V. Maier, MD, Kyle E. Yasuda, MD, Bruce J. Schwartz, MD, and Georges C. Benjamin, MDProceedings from the Medical Summit on Firearm Injury Prevention: A Public Health Approach to Reduce Death and Disability in the US 20 November 2018Volume 169, Issue 10Page: 740KeywordsDementiaDisclosureEpidemiologyFirearm injuriesPopulation statisticsPsychiatry and mental healthResearch fundingSuicide ePublished: 20 November 2018 Issue Published: 20 November 2018 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2018 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...