@article{ref1,
title="Determinants of suicide-related ideation in late life depression: associations with perceived stress",
journal="Clinical gerontologist",
year="2019",
author="Bickford, David and Morin, Ruth T. and Nelson, James Craig and Mackin, Robert Scott",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="<b>Objectives</b>: Perceived stress is emerging as a potential contributing factor in suicide-related ideation in older adults. We hypothesized higher levels of perceived stress would be associated with increased self-reported suicidal ideation independent of depressive symptom severity. <b>Methods</b>: This study used data from community-dwelling older adults aged ≥65 with a current diagnosis of major depression. Eligible participants completed measures of depression symptom severity (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 item), current suicidal ideation (Geriatric Suicide Ideation Scale), and perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale). <b>Results</b>: Participants were 225 older adults with a mean age of 71.4 (<i>SD</i> = 5.6). Sixty-five percent of the sample was female. Fifteen percent of the variance in suicidal ideation was accounted for by lower education (<i>p</i> =.03), male sex (<i>p</i> =.03) and higher current perceived stress (<i>p</i> <.001). Specifically, stress accounted for 12% of the variance. <b>Conclusions</b>: Perceived stress is an important avenue to increase identification of individuals with a higher risk of suicide-related ideation among older adults with a current diagnosis of major depression. <b>Clinical Implications</b>: Screening for perceived stress may allow for improved screening and prevention of suicidal activity in depressed older adults.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0731-7115",
doi="10.1080/07317115.2019.1666442",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07317115.2019.1666442"
}