Suicidal ideation amongst acutely medically ill and continuing care geriatric inpatients

Abstract

Suicidal ideation amongst acutely medically ill and continuing care geriatric inpatients has not been examined previously. Data from two pooled depression prevalence studies on acute geriatric wards and one such study on continuing care geriatric wards were re-examined. The Brief Assessment Schedule (BAS) measured depression. It also contains items measuring feelings of life not worth living, suicidal ideation and pessimism. The prevalence of feelings of life not worth living, suicidal ideation and pessimism were 29%, 13% and 50%, respectively, in the acute sample, 33%, 26% and 52%, respectively, in the continuing care sample, and 38%, 29% and 55%, respectively, in the continuing care dementia sub-sample. These three variables were significantly inter-correlated, and they were associated with BAS depression scores and caseness in both the acute and continuing care sample. Feelings of life not worth living, suicidal ideation and pessimism are not uncommon in this population. Findings of this study require replication and implications for further avenues of research are discussed.