Citation

Purcell B, Heisel MJ, Speice J, Franus N, Conwell Y, Duberstein PR. Am. J. Geriatr. Psychiatry 2012; 20(8): 717-723.

Affiliation

From the Departments of Psychiatry and of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario (MJH),Lawson Health Research Institute, (MJH), London, Ontario, Canada; Center for the Study and Prevention of Suicide (MJH, NF, YC, PRD), and Institute for the Family (JS), Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York; Department of Psychology, Queen's University (BP), Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1097/JGP.0b013e31822ccd79

PMID

22048322

PMCID

PMC3276748

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:: To investigate whether living alone is significantly associated with expression of suicide ideation among mood-disordered mental health patients and whether degree of family connectedness moderates the association between living alone and expression of suicide ideation. DESIGN:: Cross-sectional survey design. SETTING:: Inpatient and outpatient mental health services in Rochester, New York. PARTICIPANTS:: A total of 130-mood-disordered inpatients and outpatients 50 years and older. MEASUREMENTS:: Patients completed a demographics form, an interviewer-rated measure of current suicide ideation (Scale for Suicide Ideation), and a self-report measure of family connectedness derived from the Reasons for Living Scale-Older Adult version. RESULTS:: Patients who reported greater family connectedness were significantly less likely to report suicide ideation; this protective effect was strongest for those living with others (Wald χ[df = 1] = 3.987, p = 0.046, OR = 0.905; 95% CI = 0.821-0.998). A significant main effect of family connectedness on suicide ideation suggested that having a stronger connection to family members decreased the likelihood of reporting suicide ideation (Wald χ[df = 1] = 9.730, p = 0.002, OR = 0.852; 95% CI = 0.771-0.942). CONCLUSIONS:: These results suggest potential value in assessing the quality of interpersonal relationships when conducting a suicide risk assessment among depressed middle-aged and older adults.

Language: en