Citation

Ribeiro JD, Braithwaite SR, Pfaff JJ, Joiner TE. Suicide Life Threat. Behav. 2012; 42(4): 405-415.

Affiliation

Jessica D. Ribeiro, ThomasE.Joiner, Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA; ScottR.Braithwaite, Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Salt Lake City, UT; and JonJ.Pfaff, Western Australia Centre for Health and Aging, School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, American Association of Suicidology, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1943-278X.2012.00099.x

PMID

22646731

Abstract

Alcohol misuse increases risk of suicidal behavior in older adults. The Depressive Symptom Inventory-Suicidality Subscale (DSI-SS; Metalsky & Joiner, 1997) and its relation to suicide attempt history was examined to see if it differed for older adults as a function of their alcohol use. Structural equation modeling was used in a sample (N = 1,061) of older adult outpatients to examine the scale's measurement invariance and population heterogeneity and its relation to suicide attempt history. Analyses supported the equivalence of the DSI-SS in risky and nonrisky drinkers. The DSI-SS significantly predicted past suicide attempts. Findings support the viability of the DSI-SS as suicide screening tool for older adults.

Language: en