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.