Attempted suicide in older depressed patients - Effect of cognitive functioning

The authors explored cognitive functioning and suicidal behavior in older d epressed patients Inpatients age 50 years or older (N = 103) with major dep ression, 45 of whom had attempted suicide, were evaluated within I week of their hospital admission. Measures of suicidal behavior included suicide at tempter status, the Suicide Intent Scale (SIS), ratings of method used (vio lent/nonviolent), and seriousness of injuries sustained (lethality). The Mi ni-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 posi tive association with SIS score, but not method or lethality Findings sugge st that although cognitive disturbance may be associated with less-delibera te acts among older depressed suicide attempters, it does not appear to inf luence the potential lethality of their behavior.