Medical Illness and Suicidal Ideation in Nursing Home Residents

This study examined whether depression was more strongly related to having suicidal thoughts than medical illness & disability in nursing home elderly. One-third of the sample reported significant depressive symptoms & nearly one-fifth reported suicidal wishes. Although those who were more ill were more likely to have depressive symptoms & current suicidal ideation, neither medical problems nor level of functional status contributed significantly to the association between depression & ideation.