Abstract
Suicidal Ideation and the Choice of Advance Directives by Elderly Persons With Affective Disorders
Lifton I~~Kettl P A
The charts of 191 geriatric psychiatric inpatients with major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder were examined to determine demographic & psychiatric factors associated with the advance directive to have cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or not to have it in a life-threatening situation. Overall, 48% of patients wanted no CPR, 12% wanted CPR only, & 41% wanted all therapy performed. Patients with suicidal ideation (26% of the sample) were significantly more likely to choose not to have CPR. 60% of patients with suicidal ideation chose not to have CPR. Patients with bipolar disorder & patients under age 70 were more likely to choose CPR. (8 refs.)