Hopelessness and Suicidal Ideation in Older Adults

Abstract

This study examined the role that hopelessness plays in geriatric suicidal ideation. Sixty institutionalized elderly males were recruited. Multiple regression analyses revealed that while hopelessness was strongly related to suicidal ideation, the relationship between hopelessness and suicidal ideation was dependent on level of depression. Participants who reported moderate or higher levels of depressive symptoms were more likely to have suicidal ideation with increasing hopelessness, whereas hopelessness had little effect on level of ideation at mild or lower depressive symptom levels. Unlike previous studies in younger adults, hopelessness did not predict suicidal ideation better than depressive symptoms, although the relationship between depression and suicidal ideation was stronger within higher levels of hopelessness. These findings highlight the importance of considering depression and hopelessness simultaneously when assessing and treating geriatric suicidal ideation.

Understanding Hopelessness among Community-Dwelling Chinese Older Adults in the Greater Chicago Area

“…Screening for hopelessness among Chinese older adults may increase healthcare professionals' ability to identify older adults at greatest risk of selfharm. In addition, prior studies in clinical settings also demonstrate that the association between depression and suicidal ideation was stronger within higher levels of hopelessness [3]. Thus it is important to simultaneously consider depressive symptoms and hopelessness when treating suicidal ideation in late-life among older patients.…”

“…Within the cognitive model of psychopathology, hopelessness is conceptualized as a cognitive characteristic which is both "a determinant", and "a component" of the depressive condition [2]; and the feelings of hopelessness are construed as having a critical antecedent role in the development of depression. Despite the expression of hopelessness is sometimes hypothesized to be a larger segment of depressive symptoms, studies suggest that hopelessness can be thought of as a separate set of beliefs that influences how a person perceives information, and behaves in the world [3]. Individuals who have feelings of hopelessness are often characterized by possessing a negative view about the future, and believe that nothing will turn out right for them, that they will never succeed at what they try to do, that their important goals can never be attained, and that their worst problems will never be solved [4].…”

Evidence-Based Pharmacologic Interventions for Geriatric Depression

“…Risk factors for suicide in the elderly include physical illness [76], persistent pain [77], mood disorders [78], alcohol abuse [79], anxiety [80], bereavement, and social isolation [81]. More often, among elderly patients, it has been shown that hopelessness best predicts suicidal ideation in the presence of moderate or higher levels of depressive symptoms [82]. Predictors of suicide attempts include previous suicide attempts with serious intent and severity of depression [83].…”

Suicidal ideation among elderly homecare patients

“…In other populations of older adults, risk factors for suicidal ideation include psychiatric distress and major depression (Cooper-Patrick et al, 1994;Callahan et al, 1996;Uncapher et al, 1998;Vilhjalmsson et al, 1998;Alexopoulos et al, 1999;Bartels et al, 2002;Yip et al, 2003), previous suicide attempts (Alexopoulos et al, 1999), poor physical health (Bartels et al, 2002;Yip et al, 2003), pain (Vilhjalmsson et al, 1998), disability (Callahan et al, 1996;Awata et al, 2005), and poor social support (Awata et al, 2005;Alexopoulos et al, 1999;Bartels et al, 2002). In depressed elders, depression severity predicts suicidal ideation over time (Alexopoulos et al, 1999).…”