Age and suicidal ideation in older depressed inpatients

Age-related patterns of symptom presentation may complicate the recognition of suicide risk. The authors sought to determine whether there is a relati onship between age and reported suicidal ideation in depressed suicide atte mpters (DSAs) and depressed nonattempters (DNs) 50 years of age and over Re gression analyses revealed that increasing age is significantly associated with the absence of suicidal ideation in both DSAs and DNs. Because of thei r lower rates of depressed mood and suicidal ideation, the depressions of o lder adults may more readily escape detection. Preventive or treatment meas ures initiated after the onset of the suicidal state may be insufficient, a nd other preventive strategies ought to be considered.