Citation

Uncapher H, Levy ML, Skoloda T, Osgood NJ, Gallagher-Thompson D, Bongar B. Ann. Longterm Care 1998; 6(9): 301-308.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, HMP Communications)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

*Objective: To compare the relative contribution of medical illness and functional disability to that of depression in predicting suicidal ideation. *Design: Cross-sectional assessment of medical illness, functional disability, any DSM-IV [Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition] depression disorder, depressive symptoms, and suicidal thoughts. Assessment incorporated medical records, clinician interviews, and three structured instruments. *Setting: Two fully accredited, licensed, nonprofit nursing facilities: a 120-bed Veterans Affairs medical facility with skilled nursing home care; and a 700-bed private facility with both skilled and intermediate levels of nursing care. Both facilities had on-site hospital services and critical care units. Neither was associated with a teaching university. *Participants: Thirty male nursing home residents who scored higher than 20 on the Mini-Mental State Examination. *Measurements: Quantitative analysis of psychiatrists' DSM-IV diagnoses of depressive disorder, chart record of medical illness, chart record and verification of functional disability by an on-site head nurse, and resident responses to the Geriatric Depression Scale and the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation. *Results: Depression predicted suicidal ideation. Medical illness and functional disability did not predict suicidal thoughts when depression was factored out. When depression was not factored out, medical problems - but not functional disability -predicted suicidal ideation. *Conclusion: Suicidal ideation in nursing home residents is primarily explained by the presence of depression rather than by medical illness or functional disability. These findings highlight the importance of assessing and treating depression in medically ill men. © 2007 HMP Communications.

Language: en