Risk Factors for Suicidal Ideation in the Elderly

Haejin Kim; Areum Lee; Soyoung Irene Lee; Yonggi Kim; Han-Yong Jung; Shin-Gyeom Kim

doi:10.4306/jknpa.2015.54.4.468

Journal List > J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc > v.54(4) > 1017762

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Kim, Lee, Lee, Kim, Jung, and Kim: Risk Factors for Suicidal Ideation in the Elderly

Original Article

Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association 2015; 54(4): 468-474.

Published online: 30 November 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4306/jknpa.2015.54.4.468

Risk Factors for Suicidal Ideation in the Elderly

Haejin Kim, MA, Areum Lee, MA, Soyoung Irene Lee, MD, PhD, Yonggi Kim, MD, Han-Yong Jung, MD, PhD, Shin-Gyeom Kim, MD

Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Korea.

Address for correspondence: Soyoung Irene Lee, MD, PhD. Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Bucheon Hospital, 170 Jomaru-ro, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon 14584, Korea. Tel +82-32-621-5063, Fax +82-32-621-6909, irenelee@medimail.co.kr

Received 29 October 2015 Revised 1 November 2015 Accepted 1 November 2015

Abstract

Objectives

This study investigated the factors associated with suicidal ideation in the elderly.

Methods

A total of 136 subjects over 60 years old who visited the public offices in Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi Province in South Korea participated in the study. Subjects completed a series of questionnaires including the following : demographic information ; physical illness ; psychological illness ; suicidal ideation. In addition, Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale and Attitudes Towards Suicide-20 were used to assess the severity of depression and the attitude towards suicide, respectively.

Results

Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the factors that affect suicidal ideation in the elderly. As a result, living alone, depression, having any physical illness, and permissive attitude towards suicide were risk factors for suicidal ideation in the elderly.

Conclusion

ConclusionZZIn addition to previously identified risks factors (living alone, physical illness, and depression), the study found that permissive attitude towards suicide also serves as a risk factor for suicide in elderly people. Therefore, permissive attitude towards suicide should be addressed and evaluated in order to prevent suicide in the elderly.

Keywords: Suicide, Risk, Attitude, Aged

Figures and Tables

Table 1

Demographic characteristics of the subjects

^* : p<0.05, ^† : p<0.01, ^‡ : p<0.001. SD : Standard deviation

Table 2

Comparison of CES-D scores between suicidal ideation group and non-suicidal ideation group

^* : p&0.001. SD : Standard deviation, CES-D : Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale

Table 3

Comparison of scores of ATTS-20 between suicidal ideation group and non-suicidal ideation group

^* : p<0.001. SD : Standard deviation, ATTS-20 : Attitudes Towards Suicide-20

Table 4

Logistic regression analysis assessing independent predictor of suicidal ideation in the elderly

B : Regression coefficient, SE : Standard error, OR : Odds ratio, CI : Confidence interval

Notes

^{Conflicts of Interest} The authors have no financial conflicts of interest.

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