Attempted suicide in older depressed patients - Effect of cognitive functioning

Author(s): Conwell, Y., Duberstein, P. R., Denning, D., Cox, C.

Journal/Book: Amer J Geriatr Psychiatr. 1999; 7: 1400 K St N W, Ste 1101, Washington, DC 20005, USA. Amer Psychiatric Press, Inc. 317-320.

Abstract: The authors explored cognitive functioning and suicidal behavior in older depressed patients Inpatients age 50 years or older (N = 103) with major depression, 45 of whom had attempted suicide, were evaluated within I week of their hospital admission. Measures of suicidal behavior included suicide attempter status, the Suicide Intent Scale (SIS), ratings of method used (violent/nonviolent), and seriousness of injuries sustained (lethality). The Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) score measured cognitive impairment covariates were age, gender and living arrangement. The MMSE score was not associated with suicide attempter status, but for attempters, MMSE score showed a positive association with SIS score, but not method or lethality Findings suggest that although cognitive disturbance may be associated with less-deliberate acts among older depressed suicide attempters, it does not appear to influence the potential lethality of their behavior.

Note: Article Conwell Y, Univ Rochester, Dept Psychiat, 300 Crittenden Blvd, Rochester,NY 14642 USA

Keyword(s): ELDERLY PSYCHIATRIC-INPATIENTS; AGE

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