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Suicidal ideation among elderly homecare patients.
Patrick J Raue1, Barnett S Meyers, Jennifer L Rowe
1Weill Medical College of Cornell University, White Plains, NY 10605, USA. praue@med.cornell.edu
International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
|September 7, 2006
Summary
Suicidal thoughts are common in elderly home healthcare patients, linked to depression and illness. These thoughts often persist, highlighting the need for targeted suicide prevention in this vulnerable group.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Psychiatry
- Public Health
Background:
- Elderly adults receiving home healthcare represent a vulnerable population.
- Suicidal ideation is a significant concern in older adults, yet understudied in home healthcare settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of suicidal ideation among elderly home healthcare patients.
- To identify factors associated with suicidal ideation in this group.
- To examine the one-year course of suicidal ideation in this population.
Main Methods:
- A representative sample of 539 elderly adults (≥65 years) initiating home nursing care were interviewed.
- The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID-IV) was used, along with measures of depression, medical comorbidity, functional status, and social support.
- Participants were categorized based on the severity of suicidal ideation (none, passive, active, active with plan/impulse control).
Main Results:
- 10.6% reported passive and 1.2% reported active suicidal ideation.
- Higher depression severity, medical comorbidity, and lower social support were linked to suicidal ideation.
- At one year, 36.7% of those with baseline ideation still experienced it; the incidence was 5.4%.
Conclusions:
- Suicidal ideation is prevalent and persistent in medically ill home healthcare patients.
- This population is crucial for suicide prevention efforts due to their high risk.
- Modifiable clinical and psychosocial factors offer targets for suicide prevention interventions.
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